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Directory Of Current Media Releases
July 1, 2010
Democracy Wins: Delta Flight Attendants To Vote In First Truly Democratic Election
The July 4th holiday has special meaning for Delta flight attendants, who moved closer to a vote for representation under new, more democratic rules today with a filing by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) with the National Mediation Board (NMB). AFA-CWA asked the NMB to declare that the Delta/Northwest merger has created a single transportation system, triggering a representation election. Northwest Airlines flight attendants are currently represented by AFA-CWA, while Delta flight attendants are not represented.
June 30, 2010
Northwest/Delta Flight Attendants Reiterate Call For Democracy
Northwest Airlines flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) joined their colleagues from Delta Air Lines today at Delta's annual shareholders meeting in New York City. Just one day before new voting procedures go into effect at the National Mediation Board (NMB), flight attendants gathered to call for a quick and democratic AFA-CWA election for the carrier's over 21,000 flight attendants.
June 25, 2010
AFA-CWA Applauds' Court's Decision To Uphold Democratic Elections
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) International President Patricia A. Friend issued the following statement today after the United States District Court in the District Of Columbia supported new voting procedures proposed by the National Mediation Board (NMB). Effective July 1, 2010, the new procedures will allow the majority of workers who actually vote in union elections to decide the election and the NMB will stop assigning "no" votes to workers who do not participate in elections.
June 22, 2010
PSA Flight Attendants File For Federal Mediation
PSA Airlines flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), recently filed for mediation with the National Mediation Board (NMB). The filing, which came shortly after the first airline strike in five years at Spirit Airlines, is another example of the poor labor relations that airline management has created across the industry.
June 16, 2010
AFA-CWA Calls For Greater Employee Protections In United/Continental Merger
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) International President Patricia A. Friend testified before two Congressional committees today on the impact that a merger between United Airlines and Continental Airlines would have on flight attendants and other workers at the combined carrier. Before the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation and the House Judiciary Committee, Friend reminded Congressional leaders that airline employees are the most vulnerable in merger situations, with the most to lose and the least protections.
June 13, 2010
Spirit Flight Attendants Support Pilots' Fight For Fair Contract
Spirit Airlines flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), today announced their support for the carrier’s pilots' fight for a fair contract. In a Statement of Support, the Spirit AFA-CWA Master Executive Council (MEC) overwhelmingly pledged their support to the pilots for a successful conclusion to current negotiations.
May 20, 2010
Frontier Airlines Flight Attendants Join AFA-CWA
A strong majority of flight attendants at Frontier Airlines today voted to join the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA). The election vote, conducted by the National Mediation Board (NMB), showed that 456 flight attendants voted for AFA-CWA representation. Frontier Airlines is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings, Inc.
May 18, 2010
Airtran Flight Attendants Hold Rally For Progress In Stalled Contract Negotiations
Flight attendants at AirTran Airways, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), today will rally with AirTran pilots at the company's annual shareholder meeting to shed light on years of unproductive contract negotiations.
May 13, 2010
AFA-CWA International President Patricia friend Appointed to DOT Future Of Aviation Advisory Committee
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has appointed Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) International President Patricia A. Friend to the recently formed committee focused on the future of the U.S. aviation industry. The Future of Aviation Advisory Committee includes a diverse array of aviation experts including labor leaders, CEOs and industry analysts.
May 10, 2010
Northwest And Delta Flight Attendants Eager To Vote As New Democratic Voting Procedures Are Announced
Northwest flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) today applauded the National Mediation Board's (NMB) announcement on new democratic voting procedures. The long awaited decision, which was published in the Federal Register, abolishes outdated methods of voting that were highly susceptible to management coercion. Under the new guidelines, the majority of workers who actually vote in union elections will decide the election and the NMB will stop assigning "no" votes to workers who do not participate in the process.
May 10, 2010
Historic Policy Change Brings Democracy to Union Elections
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) International President Patricia Friend issued the following statement today after the National Meditation Board (NMB) announced new voting procedures. Under the new guidelines, the majority of workers who actually vote in union elections will decide the election and the NMB will stop assigning "no" votes to workers who do not participate in the election.
May 5, 2010
NTSB Accepts AFA-CWA Recommendation For Flotation Devices On All Aircraft
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) supported a recommendation by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) for overwater safety equipment to be included on all commercial aircraft, regardless of route. The recommendation was made at this week's NTSB hearing on the probable cause for US Airways Flight 1549's emergency ditching on the Hudson River in 2009. The NTSB Safety Board praised the three flight attendants, represented by AFA-CWA, for their effective and timely evacuation despite the difficulties they encountered.
May 4, 2010
AFA-CWA Defends Midwest Flight Attendants Flight Attendants' Seniority
Former Midwest Airlines flight attendants, supported by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), filed a lawsuit this week against the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Republic Airways as a result of the Teamsters' refusal to participate in a fair and equitable seniority integration process that is required by federal law. Since the two carriers merged earlier this year, only a few former Midwest flight attendants have been offered jobs with Republic and have been forced to start at new hire pay and seniority since Republic management has refused to credit the many years they worked at Midwest.
May 3, 2010
United Airlines Flight Attendants on Merger: Contract and Job Protections Must Come First
Flight Attendants at United Airlines, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (AFA-CWA), made clear today a new contract with pay, benefit and work rule improvements must be concluded before they can consider support for the announced merger between United Airlines and Continental Airlines.
April 29, 2010
AFA-CWA International President Patricia Friend Honored For Lifetime Achievement
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) Board of Directors presented President Pat Friend with the Ada Brown Greenfield Lifetime Achievement Award. President Friend received the distinct honor, awarded only twice before and named after a founder of the union, for her contributions to the advancement of flight attendants and AFA-CWA's mission.
April 27, 2010
AFA-CWA Elects New Leadership
The highest governing body of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), the Board of Directors, ushered in a new decade today by electing new union leadership. The Board of Directors selected Veda Shook as AFA-CWA International President, taking over the top position from Patricia Friend who will retire on December 31, 2010 after 15 years of leadership. The Board also elected Sara Nelson as International Vice President and re-elected Kevin Creighan for his second term as International Secretary-Treasurer.
April 27, 2010
Former America West Flight Attendants Protest US Airways' Incomplete 2005 Merger
Leaders of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), representing former America West flight attendants, continue to voice their anger and frustration with a management team focused on buying out the competition instead of completing and solidifying the merger consummated in 2005. Flight attendants will hold a picket on April 28, 2010, at the US Airways headquarters in Tempe during US Airways' Media Day, to protest the carrier's incomplete merger and refusal to pay wage parity to all flight attendants at the merged carrier.
April 26, 2010
AFA-CWA Honors Northwest Flight 253 Flight Attendants For Heroic Actions On Christmas Day
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) today honored the eight Detroit-based flight attendants who successfully thwarted a terrorist attack onboard Northwest flight 253 on December 25, 2009 with the prestigious C.B. Lansing Award for Heroism at the annual AFA-CWA Board of Directors meeting.
April 16, 2010
United Airlines Flight Attendants Warn Merger Going Nowhere without a New Contract and Job Security
Leaders of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (AFA-CWA), representing 16,000 flight attendants at United Airlines reiterated any merger scenario will go nowhere without new contract and job security for flight attendants. Greg Davidowitch, AFA-CWA President at United issued the following statement:
"Management needs to get busy with contract negotiations for the improvements flight attendants are due before executing against any consolidation plans. Our union will also forcefully oppose any merger that will cause flight attendant job loss. And, any merger will fail without the support of flight attendants.
April 9, 2010
America West Airlines Flight Attendants Trapped Between Two (Possible) Mergers
Phoenix, AZ - Former America West flight attendants at US Airways, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), will not allow a possible merger with United Airlines to undermine the four and a half years already invested in as-yet incomplete merged contract negotiations. US Airways/America West flight attendants will not support any merger that would delay long-overdue financial relief and improvements in healthcare, scheduling, and other working conditions.
April 9, 2010
United and US Airways Flight Attendant Leaders Say Merger Impossible with Unresolved Issues at Each Airline
Leaders of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (AFA-CWA), representing nearly 21,000 flight attendants at United Airlines, US Airways and the former America West, responded to speculation about a potential merger between their airlines. Greg Davidowitch, AFA-CWA President at United, Lisa LeCarre, AFA-CWA President at America West, and Mike Flores, AFA-CWA President at US Airways, issued the following statement:
"The notion of joining together two airlines in turmoil is absurd. The track record of management at each of our airlines is abysmal. For nearly five years CEO Doug Parker has failed to negotiate a joint flight attendant contract, continuing to operate the airlines separately with disparate treatment of flight attendants at each former airline. Parker has left merger issues unresolved all this time, which hardly qualifies him to consider the possibility of another merger.
April 8, 2010
United/US Airways Deal Won't Fly Without Flight Attendants
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (AFA-CWA) at United Airlines will not support any deal that seeks to distract from contract negotiations for the pay, healthcare, working conditions and retirement security flight attendants are due. The Union is resolute that any business combination must work for the flight attendants with improved pay, healthcare, retirement, work rules and job security.
April 6, 2010
Worldwide Protest by United Flight Attendants for Overdue Pay
United Airlines Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (AFA-CWA), will protest worldwide the failure of United Airlines management to negotiate a new contract on time.
March 23, 2010
Key Flight Attendant Provisions Pass In Senate FAA Reauthorization Bill
After eleven Continuing Resolutions, the U.S. Senate yesterday passed a version of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Bill that contained several key flight attendant provisions. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), representing 50,000 flight attendants at 22 airlines, commended the Senate for taking action on this important legislation.
March 17, 2010
AFA & ALPA Joint Statement on United/Aer Lingus Outsourcing
"The planned March 28 launch of the Aer Lingus Washington-to-Madrid flight in which United Airlines will collect revenue is the latest in a series of slaps to the faces of the pilots and flight attendants who make our airline fly."
March 15, 2010
Carry-On Baggage Endangers Crew and Passengers, Flight Attendants Say
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) today released the results of a recent membership survey in which one out of two flight attendants witnessed carry-on items falling from overhead bins in the previous 60 days. The survey validated anecdotal reports that carry-on baggage is out of control, mostly due to recent fees to check luggage.
March 5, 2010
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA Calls For Repeal Of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) International President Patricia Friend issued the following statement today supporting the Military Readiness Enhancement Act that was recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. The bills, H.R. 1283 and S. 3065, would repeal the discriminatory 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' military practice.
March 4, 2010
AFA-CWA Calls For Flight Attendant OSHA Coverage In Groundbreaking Forum
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) today participated in "OSHA Listens," an event sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) aimed at soliciting comments on key issues facing the agency. AFA-CWA detailed how for over 35 years, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has claimed exclusive jurisdiction over the safety and health of crew members on civil aircraft, yet has failed to extend basic OSHA protections to flight attendants.
February 25, 2010
Flight Attendant Leaders Push For Progress On FAA Reauthorization
Flight attendant leaders from the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) met this week with the offices of several influential Senators to promote moving forward with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization bill. AFA-CWA International President Patricia Friend and APFA President Laura Glading encouraged the Senators to take action on the important legislation that includes many key provisions for flight attendants.
February 23, 2010
Atlantic Southeast Flight Attendants Ratify Contract Additions
Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), today ratified a Memorandum of Understanding with management that accomplishes some long term goals and resolves current issues
February 19, 2010
Mesa Air Flight Attendants Ratify New Agreement
Mesa/Freedom/Go! flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), today ratified a tentative agreement with management. The two year contract includes quality of life improvements.
January 27, 2010
Flight Attendants Call For Stronger Counterterrorism Provisions
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) is calling for tightened aviation security after an attempted terrorist attack on Christmas Day exposed weaknesses in the current system. AFA-CWA representatives have presented position papers and briefed dozens of Congressional leaders and their staff on flight attendant proposals for counterterrorism initiatives to help increase safety and security inside the aircraft cabin.
January 22, 2010
United Flight Attendants Donate Service to Haiti Relief Flight
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (AFA-CWA), representing United Airlines Flight Attendants, donated the service of flight attendants on United Airlines' Haiti relief flight to help call attention to the relief efforts of the American Red Cross. Five flight attendants, who are also representatives of the Union and helped usher aid workers and supplies to Haiti, returned last night with some who lived through the earthquake and horrific aftermath.
January 7, 2010
Late United Airlines Contract Draws Worldwide Protest
United Airlines Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (AFA-CWA), are conducting a worldwide protest because United Airlines management failed to negotiate a new contract on time. Over the past seven years flight attendants have shouldered over three billion dollars in concessions affecting pay, working conditions and healthcare in addition to the termination of their pensions. Those cuts should have ended today as the contract becomes amendable. |
