Another opinion of the merger (from an AFA rep). Read these folks, you are setting yourself up for something you'll have trouble dumping later. Curious, do you suppose if ALL the UAL flight attendants decide to become "NON AFA" members (and pay our pittance dues...$7.00??) that AFA will fold? That would be nice. hmmmmmmmmmm. I suppose it doesn't really matter because AFA is going to say we voted "YES" regardless of what we ACTUALLY vote anyway (they ALWAYS do) Electronic Vote! Sure, that's secure.........NOT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MORE CWA -- PLEASE PASS IT ON
THE FOLLOWING IS THE LETTER SENT TO THE MEMBERS IN HKG FROM THEIR LOCAL COUNCIL PRESIDENT (LECP):
Ladies and Gentleman of Hong Kong.
After returning from the BOD meeting in Boston an old
Chinese proverb keeps playing in my head.
Serving the powerful is like sleeping with a tiger.
Let me give you a little background....
I don't need to expound on the virtues of the proposed
merger with CWA, the International Office has done a
very good job with the special edition of Flightline,
articles and other mailings which I am sure by now you
have all received. I want to tell you the other side.
What happened at the BOD is the other side of the
story. It needs to be told. You will need all the
information available to make an educated and
responsible choice.
You know the main agenda of the BOD this year was to
decide if AFA will remain autonomous, an independent,
single craft union organized by flight attendants, for
flight attendants..Or is it in our best interest to
join forces with the CWA, Communication Workers of
America, with a membership 700,000. This is the
position endorsed by the International Office of AFA.
Feelings and opinions ran deep on both sides.
In an interesting turn of events, prior to the
meeting, International Secretary-Treasurer Paul
MacKinnon came forward to the UAL MEC before the BOD
began and revealed that the union is not in the
financial crisis it feared. This was news to all of
us. Paul told us AFA currently expects to break even
at the end of this year. All the monies loaned to us
by CWA have been returned. He feels that by
reallocating our funds we are in a position to remain
independent... By cutting costs across the board and
tightening our belts, he believes this is our best
course of action. He also stated that he supports a
$6.00 dues increase. We have not had a dues increase
in 10 years.
So after much debate the BOD votes were counted. Each
president voting on behalf of the members in their
councils.
The final vote: 22710 Votes to endorse a "merger"
10323 Votes to defeat a "merger"
This agenda needed a 2/3s vote to pass, as it changes
our constitution and bylaws. It was very close. If 689
MEMBER votes had been cast not to support this merger
it would have failed .We would not be voting on the
proposed merger.
Hong Kong cast their 384 votes AGAINST this proposal.
The next agenda item was to pass a balanced budget for
2004. The financial committee did an excellent job of
preparing a number of diverse budgets and worked long
into the night to give the BOD a number of options...
After much debate and a proposal that started at a
$10.00 increase (this was withdrawn),a $6.00 dues
increase was voted in by the same BOD members who
voted to endorse the CWA merger.
So the choice going out to the membership is: Vote
FOR CWA OR Vote for a $6.00 dues increase. This was
passed by the same folks that supported the merger.
Earlier in the discussion of a budget increase, before
it was decided that it had to be for/or a dues
increase.. Karen Maser ,President of EWR (Newark)
stated" for the price of a sandwich, you get to retain
control of your union, of the amount of dues you will
pay, and the priorities that AFA members demand."
Somehow in the for/or a dues increase this point in
this proposal was lost. Some members of the BOD
thought that if it was not written ON the ballot the
flight attendants would not know there would be a dues
increase...
It was the opinion of the officers of HKG 26 and all
the members present at our pre- BOD local meeting in
HKG that the proposed merger had many unanswered
questions and holes in its draft state. I went to the
BOD with this in mind, and, after listening to all of
the discussions at the BOD I voted not to support the
CWA merger as it is presently written.
Here is why...
When questioned repeatedly on the floor of the BOD
about the intention of the merger agenda item to
support the CWA merger, Pat Friend admitted that it
was her intention to PASS this agenda item at the BOD
and NOT send it to the membership for a vote ** see
Special edition Flightlog, page 5 >3.flight attendants
deciding our own destiny.I find this unacceptable..so
I voted no..
I voted NO because I see too many items that are open
to interpretation, IE; unclear and vague pieces of the
proposal that could come back to haunt us in years to
come. For instance, the role of the governing bodies
and the structure of AFA will change if the proposed
draft merger agreement with CWA is approved. The CWA
agreement would allow control over our organization,
resources and future dues increases. Once the draft
merger is sent out to the membership for a vote it is
too late to change the terms and this draft becomes a
tentative agreement and cannot be changed.
The only information against this proposal prior to
the vote was Paul MacKinnon, Secretary Treasurer
coming forward at the MEC to say that AFA is NOT in a
grave financial state. I don't believe that this was
news to the International Office. This is the same
office that has suffered little with regard to wage
cuts,while the rest of AFA has taken big cuts. The
International Office's budget included a 5.12%
reduction in salary and benefits, no salary reduction
for staff and no reduction in the number of staff and
no change in the workload. The assistant to the
President had kindly given up her spousal benefits,
however she has no spouse.
In a democratic organization all sides get a voice,all
information is shared, all opinions are heard, with
no one voting out of fear. All questions are
answered...so back to my reoccurring proverb...
Serving the powerful is like sleeping with a tiger.
It is the opinion of the officers of HKG 26 that the
merger is first and foremost in the best interest of
the IO. That the IO have presented the merger in such
a way to the BOD and membership that other options
,more research into the actual changes that might take
place are brushed aside,dismissed with a disapproving
look. That to disagree is to question the credibility
and leadership of the IO and could lead to a falling
out of favor, especially among the small carriers who
depend on the IO for almost everything.....WE do have
options here. Perhaps CWA is the best path for AFA,
but not without getting specific answers to all our
concerns. Lets not be backed into the corner to vote
for this merge NOW because the IO says so.What is the
hurry? CWA said in a speech to the BOD.We are here for
you now and we will be in the future. Please consider
all the information you have. Your vote will determine
the future of our union forever... It's the entire
membership who should decide, not just the powerful.
Please watch our yahoo groups for informational
meetings and any updates we receive. HKG 26 pledges to
give you the truth, the whole truth so that you can
make an educated decision. It's up to you. It's your
union. Please vote,information on how,when, and where
to vote is on the way to us now.We will keep you
informed.
In Solidarity,
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MORE CWA -- PLEASE PASS IT ON
THE FOLLOWING IS THE LETTER SENT TO THE MEMBERS IN HKG FROM THEIR LOCAL COUNCIL PRESIDENT (LECP):
Ladies and Gentleman of Hong Kong.
After returning from the BOD meeting in Boston an old
Chinese proverb keeps playing in my head.
Serving the powerful is like sleeping with a tiger.
Let me give you a little background....
I don't need to expound on the virtues of the proposed
merger with CWA, the International Office has done a
very good job with the special edition of Flightline,
articles and other mailings which I am sure by now you
have all received. I want to tell you the other side.
What happened at the BOD is the other side of the
story. It needs to be told. You will need all the
information available to make an educated and
responsible choice.
You know the main agenda of the BOD this year was to
decide if AFA will remain autonomous, an independent,
single craft union organized by flight attendants, for
flight attendants..Or is it in our best interest to
join forces with the CWA, Communication Workers of
America, with a membership 700,000. This is the
position endorsed by the International Office of AFA.
Feelings and opinions ran deep on both sides.
In an interesting turn of events, prior to the
meeting, International Secretary-Treasurer Paul
MacKinnon came forward to the UAL MEC before the BOD
began and revealed that the union is not in the
financial crisis it feared. This was news to all of
us. Paul told us AFA currently expects to break even
at the end of this year. All the monies loaned to us
by CWA have been returned. He feels that by
reallocating our funds we are in a position to remain
independent... By cutting costs across the board and
tightening our belts, he believes this is our best
course of action. He also stated that he supports a
$6.00 dues increase. We have not had a dues increase
in 10 years.
So after much debate the BOD votes were counted. Each
president voting on behalf of the members in their
councils.
The final vote: 22710 Votes to endorse a "merger"
10323 Votes to defeat a "merger"
This agenda needed a 2/3s vote to pass, as it changes
our constitution and bylaws. It was very close. If 689
MEMBER votes had been cast not to support this merger
it would have failed .We would not be voting on the
proposed merger.
Hong Kong cast their 384 votes AGAINST this proposal.
The next agenda item was to pass a balanced budget for
2004. The financial committee did an excellent job of
preparing a number of diverse budgets and worked long
into the night to give the BOD a number of options...
After much debate and a proposal that started at a
$10.00 increase (this was withdrawn),a $6.00 dues
increase was voted in by the same BOD members who
voted to endorse the CWA merger.
So the choice going out to the membership is: Vote
FOR CWA OR Vote for a $6.00 dues increase. This was
passed by the same folks that supported the merger.
Earlier in the discussion of a budget increase, before
it was decided that it had to be for/or a dues
increase.. Karen Maser ,President of EWR (Newark)
stated" for the price of a sandwich, you get to retain
control of your union, of the amount of dues you will
pay, and the priorities that AFA members demand."
Somehow in the for/or a dues increase this point in
this proposal was lost. Some members of the BOD
thought that if it was not written ON the ballot the
flight attendants would not know there would be a dues
increase...
It was the opinion of the officers of HKG 26 and all
the members present at our pre- BOD local meeting in
HKG that the proposed merger had many unanswered
questions and holes in its draft state. I went to the
BOD with this in mind, and, after listening to all of
the discussions at the BOD I voted not to support the
CWA merger as it is presently written.
Here is why...
When questioned repeatedly on the floor of the BOD
about the intention of the merger agenda item to
support the CWA merger, Pat Friend admitted that it
was her intention to PASS this agenda item at the BOD
and NOT send it to the membership for a vote ** see
Special edition Flightlog, page 5 >3.flight attendants
deciding our own destiny.I find this unacceptable..so
I voted no..
I voted NO because I see too many items that are open
to interpretation, IE; unclear and vague pieces of the
proposal that could come back to haunt us in years to
come. For instance, the role of the governing bodies
and the structure of AFA will change if the proposed
draft merger agreement with CWA is approved. The CWA
agreement would allow control over our organization,
resources and future dues increases. Once the draft
merger is sent out to the membership for a vote it is
too late to change the terms and this draft becomes a
tentative agreement and cannot be changed.
The only information against this proposal prior to
the vote was Paul MacKinnon, Secretary Treasurer
coming forward at the MEC to say that AFA is NOT in a
grave financial state. I don't believe that this was
news to the International Office. This is the same
office that has suffered little with regard to wage
cuts,while the rest of AFA has taken big cuts. The
International Office's budget included a 5.12%
reduction in salary and benefits, no salary reduction
for staff and no reduction in the number of staff and
no change in the workload. The assistant to the
President had kindly given up her spousal benefits,
however she has no spouse.
In a democratic organization all sides get a voice,all
information is shared, all opinions are heard, with
no one voting out of fear. All questions are
answered...so back to my reoccurring proverb...
Serving the powerful is like sleeping with a tiger.
It is the opinion of the officers of HKG 26 that the
merger is first and foremost in the best interest of
the IO. That the IO have presented the merger in such
a way to the BOD and membership that other options
,more research into the actual changes that might take
place are brushed aside,dismissed with a disapproving
look. That to disagree is to question the credibility
and leadership of the IO and could lead to a falling
out of favor, especially among the small carriers who
depend on the IO for almost everything.....WE do have
options here. Perhaps CWA is the best path for AFA,
but not without getting specific answers to all our
concerns. Lets not be backed into the corner to vote
for this merge NOW because the IO says so.What is the
hurry? CWA said in a speech to the BOD.We are here for
you now and we will be in the future. Please consider
all the information you have. Your vote will determine
the future of our union forever... It's the entire
membership who should decide, not just the powerful.
Please watch our yahoo groups for informational
meetings and any updates we receive. HKG 26 pledges to
give you the truth, the whole truth so that you can
make an educated decision. It's up to you. It's your
union. Please vote,information on how,when, and where
to vote is on the way to us now.We will keep you
informed.
In Solidarity,
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
