SECTION II

UNION COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES

　

Union Communication Procedures

Communication procedures of AFA-CWA will be conducted in accordance with the following:

A. Local Council Communication

The Local Council is the basic membership group through which the individual member is represented in AFA-CWA. The Local Council officers are the elected representatives of the Local Council, and the Local Executive Council is the voice of the Local Council membership on the local level. Accordingly, the following procedures then apply:

1. All local committees operate under the jurisdiction of the Local Executive Council whose spokesperson is the Local Council President.

2. A Local Council committee delegated to determine the Local Council's opinion or position on a certain subject will furnish its completed work to the Local Council President or the President's designated representative for subsequent transmission to the proper body.

3. If the Local Council President designates some other member to represent her/him or the Local Executive Council, then such member, in carrying out that designated mission, shall make it clear to the company or other pertinent body that s/he has been so designated by the Local Council President.

4. Upon utilizing the International Office or any other facility for reproduction and/or distribution of communications, verification will be furnished that the project has been approved by the Local Council President.

5. When individual members have an individual problem, then clarification of such will be made through the Local Council President, the President's designated representative (which may be the member concerned) or pertinent committee. Individual members will not circumvent their Local Executive Council by attempting to resolve a Local Council problem on a personal basis.
　

B. Local Council Handbook

A Local Council Handbook shall be provided to all Local Council Officers for use in discharging all Council duties. This handbook shall be updated no later than March 1 of each year following the annual Board of Directors meeting.
　

C. Master Executive Council Communications

As the Local Executive Council represents the membership on the local level, the Master Executive Council Officers are the elected union representatives of that airline system-wide and the Master Executive Council President is the spokesperson for the union on that airline. Therefore:

1. All Master Executive Council committees and all Local Executive Councils operate under the jurisdiction of the Master Executive Council whose spokesperson is the Master Executive Council President.

2. A Master Executive Council committee delegated to determine the Master Executive Council's position or opinion on a certain subject will furnish its completed work to the President, or the President's designated representative for subsequent transmission to the proper body.

3. If the President designates some other member to represent the President or the Master Executive Council then such member in carrying out such mission shall make it clear to the company or other pertinent body that that member has been so designated by the President.

4. Master Executive Council committees or representatives will confine their activities within channels commensurate with their authority unless otherwise designated. For example, a Master Executive Council Central Safety Committee would be normally communicating with the airline or government staff conversant with the immediate problem. If difficulties arose and it was necessary to go to the company Vice President or Governmental Assistant Director level, the President would normally do the communicating and would brief and copy the AFA-CWA International President on such activities. If the subject needed to be carried further, then the normal procedure would be for the AFA-CWA International President to contact the airline President or Government Director in an effort to successfully conclude the matter.

5. Upon utilizing the International Office or any other facility for reproduction and/or distribution of communications, verification will be furnished that the project has been approved by the President.

6. The President shall prepare an activity sheet containing information on activities in safety, grievances, problems and general developments to be published by the International Secretary-Treasurer on the tenth of each February, April, June, August, October and December with the information being received from the President no later than the twenty-fifth (25th) of the month prior to publication.

7. All Presidents will forward scheduling policies, weight and appearance standards, crew complement standards and all System Board decisions of that airline to the International Office for use by other airlines and such information shall be kept current.

8. All Presidents will submit, and the International Office will maintain, a guideline for Professional Standards for use by other airlines.

D. AFA-CWA-Wide Communications

It is of the utmost necessity that Union prestige and coordination be maintained in communicating, either orally or in writing, with the general public, the press, the aviation industry, the ATA, and with government agencies. The Union cannot afford to have unauthorized members making indiscriminate statements without first obtaining approval from the International President or the International President's designated representatives. Generally, therefore, communication in the following categories should be processed through the International President.

1. Any communication with an airline relating to any amendment or alteration of an employment agreement.

2. Any communication with the major executive officers of an airline, aircraft manufacturer, governmental agency, etc., on the subject of Union policy, projects or items of overall Union interest.

3. All interviews, articles and references relating to an individual airline cleared through the respective Master Executive Council before publication.

4. Press release on subjects of overall Union interest.

5. In cases involving airline accidents, hijacking, etc., members of the Union shall not commit themselves orally or in writing, and shall refuse to give any statement.

6. Communications with members of Congress, congressional committees, etc., on items of Union policy and AFA-CWA projects.

7. The Union shall use all available resources to maintain and promote our professional image.

E. Centralized Arbitration Reference File

The Office of the International President shall be responsible for keeping an up to date record of all airline arbitration decisions, on file by subject, and provide copies of the record to each Master Executive Council President and that person's Staff Negotiator. In addition, a current list of all practicing arbitrators recommended by AFA-CWA and other unions shall be maintained with copies provided to each Master Executive Council President and that person's Staff Negotiator.
　

F. By-Passing AFA-CWA Channels

Any member or members who assume the responsibility of circulating improperly processed communications, briefs, or other various forms of propaganda, rather than working through regular established Union channels of representation, shall be considered in violation of Article X.A.1. of the Constitution and Bylaws and will be subject to discipline in accordance with the provisions of Article X.

G. Communications With Other Labor Organizations

Every effort shall be made by the Union to improve communications and coordinate endeavors in fields of mutual interest with other labor organizations.

H. Requests for AFA-CWA Membership Lists

Due to almost daily requests from individual members and outside business concerns who desire to use the AFA-CWA membership roster for commercial and political purposes, it is Union policy not to make such local, area, regional or national AFA-CWA mailing lists available.

I. Income Tax Services

The Union shall not provide income tax services for its members. In the event that legal action is taken against any member as the result of a non-resident state income tax levy, the member shall immediately notify the International President through that member's Council representatives.

J. Flightlog

Flightlog is the Union's house organ and means of union-wide communication to its members. AFA-CWA shall encourage the selling of advertisements as a means of financial self-support. Furloughed members will continue to receive Flightlog for a period not to exceed one (1) year from date of furlough.