As a continuation of our educational series on how AFA Works for You!, this week we focus on the value of Union Dues and a 100% focus on Flight Attendants. The following chart displays how all Union dues at AFA are budgeted and the details of how these Union Dues are allocated to each area of critical importance for each of our Members.
About 80% of all dues dollars are directly allocated to fund the work at each AFA represented airline, ie. Local Councils, Master Executive Councils, Negotiations, and System Board. The remaining budgets at the International Office support Government Affairs, Air Safety, EAP, and Communications Departments, each of which provides expert services that are Flight Attendant focused and provide resources for the local leaders and committees at each airline. 100% of our dues dollars are allocated to priorities that provide Flight Attendant representation. There are four distinct areas where dues money is spent:
Locally and Airline-wide
Each base has a Local Executive Council (LEC) with elected Officers who provide direct representation and address local grievances and other issues. These Local Officers answer your phone calls and make sure member interests are represented in front of management.
For example, in the event of discipline or a contract violation, Local Officers will address the issue where it happened and work to get swift resolution. Additionally, elected Master Executive Council (MEC) Officers provide representation at the corporate level. At both the LEC and MEC, there are Committees of the Union working to solve problems in areas such as Safety, Health & Security, Scheduling, Reserve, Grievance etc. These Committees also enforce the contract specific to their area of expertise, produce newsletters, and participate in union meetings. The role of your LEC and MEC Officers and committee representatives at each airline is to ensure you are represented by Flight Attendants who know your job because they share the aisle with you. AFA promotes this autonomy at each airline where your representatives, assisted by experts, negotiate with management and develop and maintain the relationship between airline management and the Union necessary to effectively conduct business.
Negotiations
Bargaining for pay and working conditions is one of the core representational activities performed by the Union. Starting with a membership survey, schedule meetings with management, conduct caucuses with the committee, develop contractual language, support membership engagement and information programs, we work with AFA-CWA professional negotiators throughout the process including all direct negotiations/mediation with management. The end result is improved contractual language with higher pay, better working conditions, and improved benefits.
System Board (Grievances)
The first step in any grievance is to try to resolve the matter locally. Some airlines have negotiated an alternative dispute process for a faster, collaborative resolution. If that fails, then the final stage for resolution, whether disciplinary or contractual, is an appeal to a neutral arbitrator. An AFA CWA attorney will work with our Grievance Committee to present our case to the neutral arbitrator and the System Board of Adjustment. We defend the contracts we negotiate.
International Office Support
While your LEC is the face of the Union to local management and the MEC Officers are to corporate management, the International Office is the public persona and brand of the Union. Our presence and name recognition can be the starting point for legislation to introduce or improve federal regulations, remove obstacles from the bargaining table, advance our position in negotiations and improve our experience on the job across the profession. The International Office maintains the professional staff of attorneys, negotiators, and other personnel that provide administration, accounting and membership services to members and elected leaders.
We all work together to support the programs that encompasses our profession. We are AFA – our dues are simply one way that we all chip in and collectively contribute to defend and advance our careers.