AFA union dues.....not unilateral

[airbiscuits]

ok, this one really is a thumbs down. For all you AFA affiliated flight attendants....were you aware that not all AFA affiliated FA's are required to pay dues? Sucks for those of us who are picking up the tab, huh?

[GalleyWench]

Airbiscuits, Is this really true? Do you know which airline is getting the free ride? My paycheck indicates it is not UAL...lol

[airbiscuits]

yes, of course i know which airline http://www.crewstart.com/ubb/images/icons/smile.gif But only because my friend is one of the fa's getting a free ride. The airline is Air Tran...and it's not all of the FA's at Air Tran. There is a certain number of their FA's that were "grandfathered" in order to allow AFA to represent them. My friend, who fits this criteria, only has 6 years at Air Tran....not sure what the cutoff is, or how many are getting a free ride. I did, however, work with some trainees the other day (United) and found out that AFA is intending to increase dues to $50. Do we get to vote on it? If fees are increased, will AFA make ALL FA's pay the dues and eliminate the "grandfather" clause at Air Tran? How would AFA survive if they allowed all FA's with 5 years or above to pass on paying membership dues? Hmmm......incidentally, AFA has refused all of my correspondence regarding this issue.

[GalleyWench]

Airbiscuits, Your post intrigued(angered) me and I wrote to the AFA myself to question that as well as bitch about the monies spent attempting to unionize Delta. I emailed them last week and am still waiting for an answer. I will be contacting my local AFA prez to get an admittance out of them. I also checked out the FAIR website, while I still would prefer to rework the beast that we have, I hope it does put fear in the leaders hearts and perhaps bring about change. If this increase in dues was to attain professional negotiators, great but if not......

[airbiscuits]

hello again http://www.crewstart.com/ubb/images/icons/smile.gif i finally was able to get through to the union dues individual at the AFA national office. She confirmed that three (3) airlines currently have grandfather clauses, which exclude union dues for some of their members. The three are: Air Tran, Horizon, and Atlantic SouthEast. She told me that it is negotiated at the time of the contract and it was the best they could get, in order to "buy" their representation. Seems extremely unfair to the rest of us. Especially since the AFA board of directors is currently in Atlanta deciding whether or not to increase the fees to $50 (this is what that indivual at AFA told me). Apparently, any increase in dues is at the option of the board of directors at AFA and, consequently, flight attendants have no say in the matter.....hmmm.......AFA seems to put their own interests above the interests of their members....who, incidentally, pay their bills. I've personally had it.