Flight Attendant Coalition for Change: 4/15/2012 Unethical Surveys and AFA Recalls

April 15, 2012

FLIGHT ATTENDANT COALITION FOR CHANGE

Visit our blog: http://flightattendantcoalition.blogspot.com/

AFA''S "UNETHICAL" DRUG SURVEY

Afa''s latest attempt to extract "invasive" information about flight attendants involves asking all flight attendants to participate in a potentially unethical and harmful drug use survey!

On April 11th, Afa International solicited the following information on Special AFA Interactive:

"Flight Attendants from a number of work groups have been meeting with volunteer researchers to create the very first occupational specific drug use screening tool. When completed, this tool will consist of a few brief questions which will allow a flight attendant to self identify whether her/his drug use has moved into risky behavior and to recognize at an early phase the need for assistance. But to complete this tool for tomorrow's Flight Attendants, active Flight Attendants of today are being asked to share their time to answer a 4 minute survey located at "SurveyMonkey."

Every Flight Attendant is Encouraged to take this survey by Afa International. Ask Yourself First:

Who are these volunteer researchers?

What "specific" drug use screening tool?
Where is the full disclosure?
Where is the confidentiality agreement?
What is the validity and reliability of this survey?
What purpose does it serve?
What % of our workforce is even affected by drugs?
Can it potentially cause harm to its subjects?
How is assistance - if needed- provided?
By Whom?
Can this information be used against us?

There is already too much information that is generated and distributed by sources purporting to be "friendly" to our work environment. Surveys should only be administered with strict confidentiality guidelines and full disclosure for the survey takers regarding the potential harm including breach of privacy. Any perceived risky drug behavior and available treatments when and if necessary is confidential between a physician and a patient. We should always consult our primary physician first!

BEWARE of Afa Asking for Information for an Undisclosed Source!
This survey would never be valid in the scientific community, so AFA, what is your real motive?

For more information for those interested in resources on drug studies or research:

Substance Abuse and Mental Services Administration (SAMHSA) Division of Workplace Programs http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/substanceabuse/index.html
or
National Survey on Drug Use and Health

http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/nsduh.htm

Ask Afa and their "Volunteer Researchers" for a Survey on What We Want in the Combined Contract Instead!

IF You Trust Them!

AFA's Dismal Performance

STOP

AFA INTERNATIONAL AND THE UA MEC FROM REPEATEDLY MAKING BAD DECISIONS, TELLING LIES AND DEFRAUDING THE MEMBERSHIP!

FAILED 3RD ATTEMPT TO ORGANIZE DELTA (AFA Still owes CWA $11 MILLION)
FAILED IN AN ATTEMPT TO ORGANIZE 52 Aer Lingus flight attendants based in IAD (on March 29, 2010, Afa held a protest in IAD that UA jobs were being outsourced to Aer Lingus! Hypocrites!).
FLIP FLOPS and then PETITIONS TO ORGANIZE 52 Aer Lingus Flight Attendants On January 6, 2012.
UA MEC REFUSES to allow membership to vote on IAM like contract offered by UA in May, 2010.
UA MEC EXPEDITES Negotiations and Endorses a Concessionary Contract with No Retro, No Snap Backs and a 6 year term (2010-2016) that does not even bring back 2002 wages, vacation, sick days, etc. to their membership!
UA MEC REPLACES Negotiating Committee by soliciting two nominations. The two negotiating committee members will be voted in by the SAME UA MEC voting members who brought us the industry trailing contract BY fear mongering the membership into voting "YES" or threatening us with waiting for "years" in purgatory for another contract!