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Northwest Airlines Flight Attendants Union

aMMON
Newsletter for Members of Teamsters Local 2000 Flight Attendant Union · May/june,2002· Volume
9 · Number3

1ST Overwhelmingly Passes

Dues Increase
By Danny G. Campbell, President, and the Local 2000 IBT Convention Delegates

Danny G. Campbell
President

U nder the recently approved lET

dues increase, beginning in
July Local 2000 members can
expect to contribute an extra $2.00 to
$6.00 per month - with an average
increase of $4.61 - to help replenish
dwindling Teamster coffers.
As detailed in the Final Report of the
Blue Ribbon Commission on Teamster
Finances, lET funds have fallen 94
percent since the late 1970's, "from a
peak of over $300 million to virtually
$0 today." Thus, in the Commission's
recommendation for an increase, all
IBT members will share in the sacrifice
and give more to maintain the Interna-
tional.
In the weeks prior to this year's
"Special Convention for Building
On the Inside:
Arming Pilots Pg. 4
NWA Online Services Pg. 6
FA Certification Pg. 9
Flight Deck Doors Pg. 14
Unlike last year, this year's Convention was closed to the general membership and
the press. Also, all forms of photographic and recording equipment were
forbidden inside the hall. The dues increase was approved by acclamation,
leaving no photographic or written record of each delegate's vote.
Teamster Power," Local 2000 advised During the April 29thConvention held
lET Secretary-Treasurer Tom Keegal in Las Vegas at Bally's Hotel in
and Airline Division Director Ray conjunction with the James R. Hoffa
Benning of our members' opposition to Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament,
the increase, but recognizing that it your Local 2000 elected delegates
would probably pass, we urged at least stood in opposition to ill1Yincrease, as
some modification to the 25 percent I we contended that such a significant
proposed increase:] and important change to the Union
deserved the democratic consideration
Thanks to the many calls and letters we
of all dues paying members, as well as I
received voicing your opinion - which
a full and complete accounting to the
we passed along - the IBT changed the
expenditure of such funds. I
increase for us to 12.5 percent. -I
(Continued on Page3) I
 Dues Increase...
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members is administered until the next

scheduled convention in 2006.

Although we were disappointed and

disheartened by the Convention's
outcome, we were proud to take your
message to the floor, and rest assured
we pursued every option available to
represent your interests.
Local 2000 Convention
Delegates
Danny Campbell, President
Anne Meyer, Vice President
Bob Krabbe, Secretary-Treasurer
Dennis McCarthy, Trustee

The Convention was held at Bally's Hotel and Casino - Russ Callison, MEM Base Representa-
tive
our long layover hotel in Las Vegas.

While we opposed the increase for the

reasons stated above, we did offer an
amendment that would have increased
dues by $2 per month for the sole
purpose of establishing a strike fund, as
we recognized that the current strike
fund sorely lacks the necessary cash to
fund an extended work action. Our
amendment would have provided for an
across the board strike benefit of $200
per week versus the new strike benefit,
which will only provide $92 per week
for a new-hire Flight Attendant. When
we introduced this proposal to the
Convention floor, it was rejected by a
chorus of boos and catcalls.
Upon that amendment's failure, we
Local 2000 Delegate Dana Hansen addressing the 2001 Convention - Fellow
introduced another, calling for any dues
Teamsters heckled Local 2000 Delegates Andy Damis and Kristi Valenzuela while
increase to be ratified by a majority of
all lET members; this too was dis- speaking at this year's Convention.
.. missed in the same fashion.
President James Hoffa would not Andy Damis, SEA Base Representative
A handful of members, including your release the final number, but said it was
Local 2000 delegation, then called for a less than 100. Jeff Gardner, DTW Base Representative
"Division of the House." However, this Dana Hansen, DTW Base Representa-
The Convention was closed to the tive
failed, as at least 200 delegates would
have had to stand and be counted for the general membership, and the press - a
major departure from past practice at JoAnne Kazemi, SFO Base Representa-
process to then continue with a roll call tive
vote. The delegates who stood (includ- previous IBT Conventions. Also, the
ing all 13 from Local 2000) faced taunts lET Rules Committee banned photo- Ashley McNeely, HNL Base Represen-
graphic, video and other audio-visual tati ve
and intimidation from their fellow IBT
members. equipment from the Convention hall. Jeanne M. Elliott, SEA Flight Attendant
Unless another special convention is
Afterwards, many delegates repeatedly Kristi Valenzuela, SEA Flight Attendant
called, members will not have a say in
asked how many stood; however, lET how the dues structure of Teamster Scott D. Woll, SEA Flight Attendant ~
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