Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about your AFA-CWA Account
Q. My dues are payroll deducted. Why am I getting a bill?
A. If you have payroll deduction and you do not receive a paycheck then dues cannot be deducted. Contrary to popular belief, AFA does not deduct your dues, your company deducts them. The most common reasons dues are not deducted are a result of a low paycheck or no paycheck was issued for that pay period. The information on the dues deductions for each airline can be found on the Dues Information page.
Please review the Leave of Absence policy to determine what your dues obligation is while on a leave of absence.
Q: I am on a medical leave of absence. Do I owe dues?
A: In accordance with the AFA-CWA Constitution & Bylaws, every member owes dues for the first 3 months of their leave AFTER their compensation from the carrier ends (except Military leave and Involuntary furlough). The AFA Membership Services Department receives this information from the AFA leaders at your airline. The AFA-CWA database is coded so you are only billed for these 3 months and then the billing stops.
"Payment of dues shall be required of all members that are on active status during a month or any portion thereof. A member is responsible for dues payments for the first ninety (90) days of any unpaid leave and who is no longer receiving compensation through the carrier. This compensation includes, but is not limited to, contractually negotiated sick leave, vacation, or disability. If a member is on a leave of absence for a full month or longer due to military service and is no longer receiving compensation through a carrier, that member will not be required to continue payment of dues"
Q. Can you deduct the past due amount from my paycheck?
A. Yes and No. Many, but not all of our contracts with the airlines include arrears deduction language. That means we can send your past due balance to the airline to deduct the arrears in accordance with the language in the agreement. Please review the information for your airline on the Dues Information page.
Q. I am on a voluntary furlough or company offered leave of absence, do I owe the dues?
Yes. In accordance with the AFA-CWA Constitution & Bylaws every flight attendant on a leave of absence owes dues for the first 3 months of their leave of absence AFTER their compensation from their airline ends. Those flight attendants on a military leave or involuntary furlough do not owe this amount.
This is part of the AFA-CWA Constitution & Bylaws:
"Payment of dues shall be required of all members that are on active status during a month or any portion thereof. A member is responsible for dues payments for the first ninety (90) days of any unpaid leave and who is no longer receiving compensation through the carrier. This compensation includes, but is not limited to, contractually negotiated sick leave, vacation, or disability. If a member is on a leave of absence for a full month or longer due to military service and is no longer receiving compensation through a carrier, that member will not be required to continue payment of dues"
Example of the 90-day leave obligation:
Your voluntary furlough begins on November 1. You would owe dues for November, December and January. If dues are payroll deducted for any of these months, it will be applied to this 90-day leave obligation.
Your voluntary furlough begins on November 1. You would owe dues for November, December and January. If dues are payroll deducted for any of these months, it will be applied to this 90-day leave obligation.
*The Constitution and Bylaws is written by the AFA Board of Directors which consists of all LEC Presidents, including yours.
