| | | Inside this issue: | MEC Meeting Update
Local Council Updates
Local Elections
Wear Pink! October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October Voter Registration Drive
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) Phone Banking
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Dear Members of Local Council 11,
MEC Meeting Update
The first and only MEC meeting with all 21 Local Council Presidents presiding took place this week in Chicago. This meeting is yet another step in bringing us together as one group. We started the meeting with updates from our recently elected MEC President Ken Diaz, MEC Vice President Adam Novish, and MEC Secretary-Treasurer Jeff Heisey. Each of the newly elected officers gave us the update on the transition and reviewed the role and Committee assignment each officer has taken on. One aspect of merging the MEC is the combination of the current MEC Committees. At this time, all of the MEC Committees have been integrated with the current Chairpersons of each subsidiary serving together as co-chairpersons as we develop the policy manual and learn how and what each group manages the committees.
Following the officer reports, the Joint Implementation Team (JIT) reported out on their first few weeks of work on implementation of the new provisions of the Contract. There is a lot of work to be done to implement this Agreement and we highlighted the fact that information needs to be coming in more rapidly. We recognize that there are several steps in this process. Overall the timeline began with ratification on August 12, 2016. We moved to DOS on August 28, 2016 and now we are in the DOS + phase. Many wonderful benefits of the Contract became effective on DOS. However, there are also many pay factors that do not go into place until we develop the technology to facilitate full implementation. DOS + is where we are today. The initial priorities of the JIT are to ensure the items that need to be implemented now are done as expeditiously as possible with a priority focus on any item(s) that increase pay for Flight Attendants.
During open discussion as an MEC, we have unanimously adopted a resolution directing the United MEC President to approach the company about the awarding of the cabin jumpseat based on seniority as negotiated in the new CBA, that is company or bidding seniority, whichever is earlier, for the combined membership. We recognize that this change is in direct response to membership requests that this be implemented sooner rather than later.
Day Two of the MEC meeting began with an update from our Joint MEC Communication Committee. Last week the two committees began working together to produce updates for all United Flight Attendants. This is a significant change as the MEC Communications Committee produces all of the messages distributed to the entire population of Flight Attendants via E-lines using, in the interim, the e-mail sending system of the respective pre-merger airline. One of the interesting facts that came out of their report was the number of current subscribers to communication from AFA. We strongly encourage all Flight Attendants to subscribe to both the Elines and the Local Council Newsletter to ensure you are getting the most accurate and up to date information from the Union.
Following the Communications Committee report the Central Schedule Committee (CSC) reported out to the MEC. For the pre-merger Continental schedule, there is no schedule committee and the Company is responsible for building the lines. The Company will be responsible to ensure lines are built for pre-merger Continental until we are under CMS. Some of the issues CSC is currently managing are the system-wide challenges of shifting flying and trying to continue to build pure lines of flying. They are aware of the shortages of language qualified Flight Attendants and meet with the Company twice a month to review staffing and the line building process. One recent SFO specific trend they highlighted was the previous practice of building 10-14 9000 IDs daily to cover our flying. The tracking of this information helped CSC advocate for an additional 60 lines to be built for the following schedule month.
Local Committee Updates
As trainings become available we are continuing to expand our local committees. Last month both Michelle Badilla and Sheila Schultz attended the Safety Health and Security training in Chicago. They have been working diligently to get the committee online. We are grateful for their dedication to the safety and health of our Flight Attendants.
Last week, the MEC Grievance Vice Chairpersons traveled to SFO to train/update five (5) volunteers, Wendell Soohoo, Mark Zehr, Steve Murzi, Matt Materne, and Jon Liu on the grievance process here at United. Several of these new volunteers on the committee have been previously trained and we welcome them back to help our members.
The Officers of San Francisco Council 11 express our appreciation to Sheri Meehleis for dedicated service to the Membership and for her assistance during the transition.
Local Elections
Combined Local Council Election Schedule
Section X.E.1.e. requires that “Local Councils at those bases where a duplication of Councils exists” will have elections to combine the Councils within 90 days of the “signing of a merged working agreement.” The following locations have duplicate Councils and will conduct elections:
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DCA/IAD
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DEN
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EWR
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IAH
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LAX
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ORD
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SFO
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The timeline under which Elections for San Francisco will be as follows:
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Nomination Ballots Mailed 10-3-16
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Election Ballots Mailed 11-14-16
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Nominations
Open
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Nominations
Close
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Elections
Open
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Elections
Close
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10-6-16
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10-26-16
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11-17-16
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12-14-16
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The new term of office will begin on 1/1/2017.
We will build Our United future together - taking care of each other and working together to address any issues we face or making the most out of any opportunities before us. We are one airline. We are one union. We are one.
Wear Pink! – October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Our country dedicates the month of October to educate the public and raise awareness about the dangers of breast cancer. Even though we have seen many astounding breakthroughs in recent years, the medical community tells us there’s nothing more important than early detection when it comes to surviving this deadly disease. That’s why this issue is of such importance to AFA and why we support this effort passionately.
You can show your support for Breast Cancer Awareness during the month of October by participating in the PINK Program. You can wear approved pink scarves and ties with your uniform from Oct. 1 – 31, 2016. To purchase your PINK accessories, visit unitedpink.net. For the price of just $12.00, you can show your support for a great cause and each new purchase will generate a $5 donation to the American Cancer Society. You may also wear approved items purchased from previous years to show continuing support of the Pink Program.
If you would like to learn more about this very important issue, visit our website and click on the Breast Cancer Awareness banner. Here you will find the American Cancer Society recommendations for early breast cancer detection, the importance of breast self-exams and how to perform them, information on who gets breast cancer, and how you can help. Together we can make a difference.
October Voter Registration Drive
The choices we make in the General Election on November 8th will determine what we can achieve for our profession - and what is at risk. Completing our work on Flight Attendant fatigue, outsourcing, workplace safety and health protections, and other legislative issues important to Flight Attendants depends on all of us. We are counting on every Flight Attendant to register to vote, learn which candidates support our issues and, most importantly, to vote!
Many of us will be working away from home and our polling places on Election Day. To ensure that your voice is heard, we encourage you to consider voting early or absentee. You may request a vote-by-mail absentee ballot by contacting your state or local election office. Some states even allow in-person early voting. For more information on Flight Attendant-friendly voting options, please go to unitedafa.org/vote.
Your vote on November 8th may be the one that makes the difference in helping to create the pro-Flight Attendant majority in Congress that will support the positive changes we need not only for our profession but for working families in America.
Our local Government Affairs Committee will be in the domicile starting next week.
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) Phone Banking
We are excited to be hosting a joint phone bank evening for the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and APALA on Thursday, September 29th from 5:30pm to 8:30pm at 22 Hillcrest Drive in Daly City. There is street parking as well a parking lot in the back of the building, both of which are free after 6:00pm. Dinner will be provided. In order for us to order the right amount of food and also to accommodate any special dietary needs, please call 650-572-8848 or email Julie Lind Rupp smclcjulie@sbcglobal.net if you plan to join us. If you are unable to make it on the 29th but would like to volunteer at a later date, please reach out to Stan Kiino (skiino@unitedafa.org) for more dates and information. Thank you all so much for your help, and we look forward seeing you on the 29th!
In Solidarity,
Kaitlin White, President
AFA-CWA, San Francisco C-11 | 