Tuesday, February 21, 2012

AFA INT'L GETS AN IAM PAY RAISE?!?

Will Afa Int'l Officers Get 30% Salary Increase on June 1, 2012?!


"Our Pay is Going Up -- Continental Rates Set Minimum" - Sara Nelson (Speaking for the Afa Officers)?

Afa Constitution & Bylaw - Section IV.I - "International Officers compensation will be based on the "HIGHEST" flight attendants hourly pay".

*The "Highest" Afa hourly pay is CAL's IAM negotiated rate of pay ($53.53 an hour)!
Corruption-for-Dummies
CALCULATE:

1. Total compensation for the INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT WILL BE 2.25 times 68 hours annualized at the "HIGHEST" AFA-CWA Flight Attendant’s hourly pay (to include negotiated overrides, i.e., purser/lead, international rates, COLA, et al).
Plus an additional 11% (eleven percent) override of this figure. Total compensation for the International President in 2010 was $110,824.26 .


Veda Shook was paid $112,885 in her new position as international President for the 2010 - 2011 fiscal year which does not include the "higher" CAL pay rates.
Included in that pay was the $17,832 for non-itemized reimbursed expenses (18.76%) she had in 2010-2011.

Veda Shook's new pay increase under CAL's higher pay rate will be ($53.53 Base+$7.50 "Purser" Pay +$5.00 "Quarterly" Incentive x 2.25 x 68 x 11% override on total) = approximately $126,707.70.
Adding the approximate 18.76% in non-itemized reimbursed expenses of $23,707.36 for 2012 - 2013, makes Veda Shook's total compensation at least $150,478.08.
The amount does not include COLA, et al. (whatever that might be). It also does not explain whether Afa International Officers can pick from several airlines to take the highest pay from each - an "Ala Carte Pay" menu from the airlines it represents, which could further increase the amount.

Will Veda Shook Earn Over $150,000?

2. Total compensation for the International Vice President and the International Secretary-Treasurer will be 80% of the International President’s compensation. Each received $88,659.41 in total compensation for 2010 (without CAL's pay rate). For 2012- 2013, based on the "Higher" CAL pay rate, 80% of the International President's compensation will be $101,368.136. The additional non-itemized reimbursed expenses has not been added to this pay yet.

In Addition
*Insurance, vacation, and other fringe benefits including pension to the International Officers will be provided by the AFA. Also currently receiving $48.00/day per diem (+) additional 20% for tipping (while at home); .55 cents/mile for driving expenses, etc.

WE SUGGEST AMENDING THE AFA CONSTITUTIONS & BYLAWS AS FOLLOWS:
  • THE AFA INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS PAY RATES AND RAISES SHOULD BE BASED ON THEIR PERFORMANCES AND NOT ON "PIGGY BACKING" OFF THE PAY SCALE NEGOTIATED BY OTHER UNIONS FOR AT LEAST 48 MONTHS FOLLOWING BECOMING THE NEW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGENT OF SAID UNION.
  • The AFA INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS PAY RAISES SHOULD NEVER EXCEED MORE THAN 10% IN ANY ONE YEAR!
  • The AFA INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS SHALL PAY A PENALTY TO THE MEMBERSHIP UNLESS A TA IS NEGOTIATED WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF ANY YEAR THE CONTRACT IS AMENDABLE.


Afa OWES $14 Million Dollars!


CWA Credit Card







The Afa Budget "Squabble"

According to CWA, Afa owes them $14 million dollars. $10 Million for the 3rd failed Delta campaign and $4 Million for the IAM/Afa representation election. Afa is now under investigation by the NMB for election improprieties.

CWA would not only like their money back but wants 6% interest on the $14 Million owed them. That would be $840,000 a year (At $43 a member, they would need dues from 19,535 flight attendants)! That's almost half of Afa's entire membership!
In 2003, Afa promised that the CWA merger would:
"enhance the job security, bargaining power and economic prosperity of members while building upon the proud history of the accomplishments of both unions"
CWA Afa leadership is proving that they are not capable of enhancing job security or bargaining power for their members. They have succeeded, however, in becoming an embarrassment to the membership!



Afa Votes Against Democracy


AFA oppressionThe February 6th - 8th BOD Meeting Fiasco

Board of Directors Agenda Items #16-19 proposed Direct Membership Election of International Officers (Article VIII.A.) The proposals were made by the CAL Afa LEC 62, 63, 64 "to achieve a more inclusive and democratic union to serve the interests of all the membership of the CWA-Afa".

The proposals would have introduced direct membership election of Master Executive Council leaders by direct vote of the membership. The proposals would allow the flight attendants to be directly involved and engaged in the selection of their leaders.

The Proposals by CAL LEC 62, 63, 64 were Rejected by Afa MEC!
We Are Not Allowed to Vote for our Afa MEC or Afa International Officers!

Remember UA Voted "NO" for the CWA Merger?!
The CWA-Afa Merger in 2003 was orchestrated by the "Appointed" Afa International Officers. It was Voted Down by UA Flight Attendants. The Merger Agreement between CWA and Afa stated "the goals of both unions is to enhance the job security, bargaining power and economic prosperity of members while building upon the proud history of the accomplishments of both unions".

How Did that Work Out for US?
There was also a tiny "Opt-Out" Clause. "Afa or CWA may terminate the Merger Agreement upon 6 months written notice given to the other within 4 years from date of Merger". On October 3, 2006, Larry Cohen, the President of CWA, sent Pat Friend (our then International President) a reminder that the intent to "Opt-Out" clause will run out on December 31, 2007. Pat Friend made sure it lapsed quietly without the memberships knowledge! Pat was rewarded with a salary increase, a new leased car, a very nice condo in Washington D.C. and a pension.She was also paid an additional $90,203 for half a year's work in the 2010-2011 fiscal year!

Apparently, It "Pays" for Afa Officers to Keep Us In the Dark and Deny the Membership Any Significant Voting Rights!



Afa's Voting Instructions!


Vote Smart 2012

Remember

"You may vote as many times as you like, using either the telephone or Internet - only your last vote will be counted in the tally."

AND
Afa Raises Dues from $43 to $48 a Month!

It was $38 in 2004 after the CWA Merger! That is over a 25% Dues Increase While Flight Attendants Lost Wages, Pension, & Benefits!

And

Afa International Officers Gets a Huge Pay Increase!

Do You Really Trust Afa's Promise to Get us a Combined Contract??? They "Broke" Every Promise Since 1996! In Fact, UA Flight Attendants Overwhelmingly VOTED DOWN the CWA Merger in 2003!!!


REMEMBER - The TA you are now voting on contains nothing that Afa promised you in terms of money, job security, or really anything else of substance. But Afa really wants to pass this TA, so you have to believe this is the best we could do, and please be rest assured, as Afa says:
  • The money will come
  • It's not all about money
  • Together we can do better
  • Whatever it takes
  • We're member driven
  • Wear your yellow ribbon
  • Send Jeff a post card
  • We have leverage
  • This is just a "stepping stone"
Afa also has a bridge for "Sale" to raise money because raising our dues will not pay for all of their high wages and expenses!
The
Bridge is in Brooklyn!




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