Negotiation Update
The Negotiation Committee will meet with the company June 7th and 8th in Tulsa, Oklahoma. One of our goals during negotiations (in addition to lots of money and good scheduling rules!) is to keep our members informed. You will receive regular elines after each negotiating session which will detail the topics discussed at that session. There will be periodic video meetings and FaceBook live meetings with the negotiating committee.
Please make sure you have registered on our website at https://afaomni.org/ This is where most of our information will be kept.
Video Chat Information
Our first Video Chat was held May 10th. It was a quick update. Here are the topics and information:
- Union for resolutions: We have a Professional Standards Committee. Be sure to utilize this before going to the company with any personnel issues. See below for more information.
- Importance of being in good standing: A Flight Attendant who remains delinquent in their dues can be discharged. A member will be deprived of all rights to participate in any activities of the Union in any manner whatsoever. This means a FA will not be able to vote in any negotiation activity.
- Committee Volunteers: We are always looking for Committee Volunteers and Base Representatives. Please contact a Committee Member or your Officers and join today.
- Negotiations Update: First date of negotiation meeting is June 7th and 8th.
Calling Out Fatigue
Why are there so many hearings for Calling Out Fatigue? We asked the Company this question and have received the following information: The calls are more of a fact-finding. Was the hotel noisy? Were there circumstances causing fatigue during a particular day/week? Were there delays? We are collecting data.
Please be sure to get plenty of rest during your down time. If a hotel is noisy, let inflight know. It's exciting to be in a new place and explore but remember, safety first. Your health and rest are important.
From The Safety, Health and Security Committee
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Did you know carbon monoxide detectors are not mandatory at hotels in the United States? Most likely they aren't in other countries either. Carbon monoxide detection is vital. These detectors pick up on the presence of carbon monoxide and then warn you so that you can take action, thus saving your life and other lives as well. Consider traveling with a plug in/battery back up carbon monoxide detector. You can find them on Amazon for an average of $20. Stay safe.
Hotel Safety
In 1991, Nancy Ludwig, a Northwest Airlines Flight Attendant, was murdered in her room on a layover in Detroit. After Nancy checked in, she headed to her room alone and a man was waiting in the stairwell and forced himself in her room. After her body was found, they spoke to witness and they said a strange man was watching her from the time she got off the hotel shuttle.
It is important to be aware of our surroundings at all times and have another crew member check each others rooms. Have one crew member stand at the room door and prop the door open. While the other crew member is checking under the bed, closets and the bathroom including the shower. Once that room is checked, make sure the door is locked and escort the other crew member and do the same to make sure the other room is also unoccupied.
It is also a good idea if you're going out, to go with another crew member. If you go alone, let someone know that you're going out and what time you should be back at the hotel.
Know Your Contract, Know Your Rights
Situation A: Flight Attendant #1 discovers a FA #2 was called for a trip. FA #2 has plenty of hours, is very junior, and should not be next in line to fly. FA #1 calls Crew Scheduling to complain and Scheduling apologizes. The end.
Situation B: Flight Attendants had to clean the plane on two different legs because cleaners did not show up. Company told them they would give them a meal credit instead of cleaning pay since that would be faster to enjoy. Problem solved.
Do these scenarios sound right to you? They shouldn't. YOU are covered by a CBA. If there is a problem with your schedule, your rest, off days, being asked to do something out of the ordinary, etc...let the appropriate Union Committee know. Your fellow Committee Volunteers are here to ensure your contractual rights are being upheld. They cannot help unless they know what is happening.
In Situation A, FA #1 could file a Schedule Incident Report and CC the Scheduling Committee (or vice-versa). If found in favor of FA #1, there is possible reimbursement.
In Situation B, these FA's should get cleaning pay regardless of the meal credit. Cleaning pay is in our contract.
We recommend any time you contact the company with work issues, you copy your email to a Union Committee. This ensures it's on record and helps us track the instances of this type of event happening. https://afaomni.org/committee/. Also, please send a copy to the Grievance Committee to determine if a grievable issue is involved and whether a grievance should be filed.
Remember, when you let the union know of an issue, you are not getting anyone in trouble. The contract specifies our contractual rights and the company is accountable to abide by them. It does not matter if you are a new FA or have been here for years, this is the benefit of having a contract.
*Situation A & B are made-up scenarios for example purposes only.
The EAP and You
If there is something confidential you need to discuss, contact eap@afaomni.org. The EAP is bound by the same confidentiality laws as medical professionals, so rest assured your concerns will be safely guarded. We are here to support and fight for every Flight Attendant.
EAP Reps: Thea Kelm (IAD), Naitro Taylor (IAD), Derek Villagomez (DFW).
What is the Professional Standards Committee?
The Professional Standards Committees consists of peer volunteers who are trained to help resolve issues that occur within our groups. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, via email, phone, and text. Our goal is to resolve problems and conflicts before they become disciplinary actions requiring involvement by the Chief Pilot or the Director of Inflight.
Professional Standards deals with issues that are considered professional and ethical in nature. Some examples include personality conflicts, cockpit management style, personal hygiene, behavioral problems, personal conduct and attitude, style of flying, failure to follow standard operating procedures, crew coordination and gender sensitivity.
Let’s work out our problems at the union level, not at the management level. Once management is involved, there is little our committees can do to help. The last thing any of us want – the company included – is a disciplinary hearing in Tulsa over something that could have been resolved by your union
Contact Thea Kelm at eap@afaomni.org or 1-800-424-2406. You can also view an earlier newsletter for more details about the Pro Standards Program. https://afanewsletters.org/view/?id=22901
Where Does My Union Pin Go? Can I Put Other Pins There?
Contractually, your Union Pin goes on the side opposite your wings. No other pins should be placed there.
According to CBA Section 22.E:
Union Insignia
1. Flight Attendants shall be permitted to wear the official Union insignia in the form of a pin or tie tack on a place visible on all Flight Attendant uniforms in one of the following areas:
a. On the side of the uniform opposite the wings and name bar.
b. As a tie tack.
2. Flight Attendants may wear the Union lanyard with their ID.
Volunteer Opportunities 
Base Representatives
We need Base Representatives in Seattle and Yokota. Basic duties would be to help get union information out, distribute pins and other swag. Be the Union point of contact for Flight Attendants at their base.
If you are interested in becoming a Base Representative, email secretary@afaomni.org now. Must be in good standing and past probation period.
Committee Volunteers
A complaint stops with finding the problem, but problem solving involves action to resolve it. Are you ready to help? All our Committees can use help. Sometimes it's simply being aware of what is happening, other times it may be answering emails - it simply depends on the Committees needs.
Please take a look at the many options, see which one appeals to you and send us an email of interest. Each Committee Volunteer should know their contract section in the CBA. Here is the link to our committee page: https://afaomni.org/committee/
Safe Flying!
In Solidarity,
John Reise, MEC/LEC President president@afaomni.org
Debbie Parker, MEC/LEC VP, Secretary-Treasurer secretary@afaomni.org