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CLT Council
89 Online News |
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AFA RESOLUTION CALLING FOR NATIONWIDE STRIKE
Acting with unprecedented courage and conviction the AFA Board of Directors unanimously adopted a resolution yesterday authorizing a nationwide strike by all members of AFA represented carriers should any carrier abrogate any collective bargaining agreement in or out of bankruptcy court. The resolution recognizes that the abrogation of any one our agreements is a threat to ALL of our contracts.
The resolution asks that all airlines in bankruptcy withdraw any pending motions pursuant to section 1113 of the U.S. Bankruptcy code and instead engage in good faith bargaining with the AFA. Subject to a strike vote of members at carriers currently in bankruptcy, AFA will initiate CHAOS (Creating Havoc Around Our System) at any carrier whose contract is abrogated and would ask ALL members of other AFA carriers, and flight attendants worldwide, to initiate secondary strikes in support.
This does NOT mean we are currently on strike. The mechanics of the resolution require an "authorization to strike" ballot be mailed to each member at airlines currently in bankruptcy. If the authorization passes at US Airways and the company prevails in court by abrogating our contract we would be authorized to implement CHAOS.
Airlines have begun the process of using poor management, financial distress and the courts to reduce wages, benefits and work rules to levels well below industry standards. The need to compete is being replaced by the "want" to destroy the working conditions of thousands of employees nationwide. In our case, US Airways is using the process to "transform" our careers into minimum wage jobs that will bankrupt many of us in an effort to save the Company. In the larger context this process is simply an avenue for many corporations to walk away from all "employee debt", including the pensions and health care of millions of American workers.
AFA recognizes that this effort must stop and has taken a stand in support of that. I support this resolution 100%. This is what we are all about as a union. There is no point in having a collective bargaining agreement if we do not take a stand and protect the rights we have under the law. We cannot consider our cause just and our careers secure if we simply stand by and continue to meet US Airways’ demands whenever they ask.
We do not have to strike and indeed we would rather not. We remain committed to reaching a fair agreement that is equitable to both sides. The choice is entirely up to US Airways.
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© Copyright 2004. Council 89 CLT AFA -CWA US Airways - Council89@afausairways.org |
