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What can we Expect from the
Association of Flight Attendants once they petition for a union
election? |
Once the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) petitions the National
Mediation Board (NMB) to conduct a secret ballot election for the Delta
Flight Attendants to vote for union representation, you can expect the AFA
to take most if not all of the following actions. You can also expect
variations. These are typical actions taken by unions as they attempt to
drive a wedge of fear and mistrust between employees and management. They
are time tested and quite predictable. The thing to remember is why the
AFA wants to organize us to begin with:
The AFA is in a weakened
financial position and desperately needs to recruit more members if it is
going to survive as a major player in the United States labor movement.
The following actions will be the union’s attempts at making you
mistrust management, generating false enthusiasm for the union drive, and
tricking you into submitting a yes vote in the election:
The AFA’s Organizing Plan includes:
AFA media blitz (could include attacks on the company, personal
attacks on members of management e.g. Vicki
"Mascara", Sharon "Fibben," the Flight Attendant
"Floorscum," statements from activists that they have been
"mistreated," and simplified sound bites like "we just
want it in writing" or it can be warm fuzzy "we just want to
give you a voice")
The AFA will send letters and glossy propaganda flyers to your
homes. (Assuming the AFA has not run out of money.) If funds are
short, expect activists to hand out letters and flyers extolling the
virtues of the AFA.
An attempt to elicit sympathy by trying to portray Delta as being
unfair. Most likely by lodging trumped up charges against Delta with
the NMB.
Increased numbers of other airline flight attendants making
testimonials and other union members offering support for the AFA
campaign in the airports, in letters, and on the AFA website.
Generate envy and jealousy of management by constantly mentioning
pay.
Continued meetings with activists, phone banking, and conference
calls to try to keep Delta AFA activists from becoming demoralized as
support for the union drive wanes.
Resurgence of past pro-union literature.
Creating a climate where flight attendants react emotionally
instead of thinking through and analyzing issues.
An attempt to show that key AFA management is responsive to its
members. Expect things like "fax Pat Friend," and the AFA
EAP is there for you.
Delta AFA activists will become MORE aggressive. Expect more
personal attacks on anti-union voices. There will be a vilification of
the leaders of the anti-union grassroots groups. If you do not agree
with the AFA party line, you will be labeled a Cool-Aid drinker or
worse. Expect to feel more pressure from AFA activists on the
aircraft, in the concourses, in the lounges, and on layovers.
Expect to see false conversions as activists try make us think that
flight attendants are changing their minds and coming over to support
the AFA. Example: "I was a fence sitter, but now I am definitely
voting YES."
When you ask an activist if they can guarantee any improvements,
they will become defensive.
Possible THEMES of these activities will include:
The economy is not good. With a legally binding contract, we can
protect you from furloughs with a "no furlough" clause like
we have at US Airways.
Give us a chance, we really are pro-Delta, pro-union, and pro-USA.
Honest.
Join with 50,000 other AFA members. If mediocrity is good enough
for them, it should be good enough for you.
Cherry picking of contracts. The AFA will hold out the best parts
of every union contract and say that they can get it all here for the
Delta flight attendants.
If you vote in a union, you do not start from scratch, and you have
nothing to lose and everything to gain.
You will never be an adult unless you form a union and then get
them to negotiate for you.
It is better to have the respect and dignity of a contract than
industry leading wages.
The AFA will try to associate themselves with better unions that
have been effective like ALPA and APFA.
What should we do about it?
A strong offence is our best defense. |
Remember WHY we do not want a union at Delta:
Whenever the AFA has a seat at the negotiating
table at other airlines, most often it is a high chair.
The AFA cannot enforce its legally binding
contracts.
The AFA negotiates retirement benefits inferior
to our retirement benefits.
The AFA will distort the truth to make itself
look good.
The AFA needs our money to shore up its shaky
finances.
The AFA will cause more dissension in our ranks
if they come into power.
Because we do not want the AFA’s outside
agenda to hijack our company and our future.
Because the AFA has proven that it cannot
protect jobs.
Because we do not want to put our families,
ourselves, and the company at risk because AFA International
wants to prove something by striking at Delta.
Because we do not believe that the activists
leading this organizing drive have the expertise, the
temperament, or the ability to assume responsibility for our
futures should we elect them.
We do not want AFA representation to cause us to
be furloughed.
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Action:
Tell the activists when they ask to speak with you that you are
happy with the Delta wages, benefits, and working conditions and that
you plan to work with management to ensure the future success of Delta
Air Lines.
Tell your flying partners that these activists are pawns in the
union attempt to gain money and political power by organizing us
Go to www.deltafa.org
or www.4freedomforce.com to
join together with other flight attendants that do not want a union.
Wear your Delta! pin. You have the right to do so and it
gives others the courage to do the same.
Ask your coworkers not to submit a ballot in the upcoming election
and when your ballot comes to your mailbox, shred it and show the AFA
that you will not be a pawn in their quest to gain political power at
your expense.
DeltaFA.org
www.deltafa.org
To comment on this page, go to the DeltaFA
Talk Discussion Board
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