Dear Members,
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NORTHWEST FLIGHT ATTENDANTS VOW TO DEFEND CONTRACT
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DELTA FLIGHT ATTENDANTS CLOSER TO HAVING A VOICE
- Accessing The Hub
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AFA Local Numbers
NORTHWEST FLIGHT ATTENDANTS VOW TO DEFEND CONTRACT
AS DELTA
FLIGHT ATTENDANT ELECTION IS VOIDED
Washington, DC –
Northwest Airlines Master Executive Council President Kevin Griffin issued
the following statement today after results were announced from the Delta
Air Lines flight attendants’ election to become members of the Association
of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA). With only 5,306, or almost 40 percent,
of eligible flight attendants voting, the National Mediation Board (NMB)
could not certify AFA-CWA as the flight attendants' representative.
"This
election’s results send a strong message to the over 7,500 flight attendants
at Northwest Airlines – our contract and our profession are under attack and
we must do everything in our power to preserve and protect our future. For
Delta executives, the idea of a merger with Northwest is even more
attractive as it would give them a chance to prevent thousands of non-union
employees from gaining a union, and also would be an opportunity to
eliminate the unions that already provide protections for their members at
Northwest. We have outlined conditions necessary that need to be met before
Northwest flight attendants will support any merger and we will continue to
stand behind those.
"Delta
flight attendants faced an uphill battle throughout this election. Every
step of the way they were met with increased resistance from management. We
applaud and honor the Delta flight attendants who stood up to management’s
intimidation and coercion and who voted to have voice in their future.
"Today
Northwest flight attendants face a very real threat to our collective
bargaining rights. Delta is now set for what could be an unprecedented
remaking of the entire airline industry, one that could destroy airline jobs
as a stable and secure middle class career once and for all. We will
continue to do everything we can to prevent that from happening. Northwest
flight attendants refuse to imagine a future without a voice and without a
vote. We refuse to imagine a future without a say in our work lives. We
refuse to imagine a future where there is no seat at the table for flight
attendants.
"Northwest flight attendants have been known for our long and proud history
of being strong union members and we will do everything in our power to
continue that tradition. Over the next several months, we will work
alongside our Delta flight attendant colleagues on how to best move forward
with our two groups and we are prepared to defend our rights should the
merger occur and another election is triggered."
Under
current NMB rules, when one non-union work group merges with a union group,
if 35 percent of combined workforce has union representation or signs a
union card, a union election will automatically be called. That vote is
expected to occur in early 2009.
On May
29, flight attendant representatives from Northwest and Delta will meet at
the AFA-CWA offices for the first of many strategic joint committee
sessions. The sessions are geared toward developing a framework for
integration of the two flight attendant groups, as well mapping out future
plans for responding to the merger.
For over
60 years, the Association of Flight Attendants has been serving as the voice
for flight attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the
media and on Capitol Hill. More than 55,000 flight attendants at 20
airlines come together to form AFA-CWA, the world’s largest flight attendant
union. AFA is part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of
America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at
www.afanet.org.
DELTA FLIGHT ATTENDANTS CLOSER TO HAVING A VOICE
Delta’s Voter Suppression Efforts Delay Union Representation Until Merger
with NorthwestWashington, DC – Delta Air Lines flight
attendants narrowly missed a chance to form a union today. The Association of
Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) won the vast majority of the votes cast in an
historic election for union representation, but federal rules requiring a
majority turnout, coupled with an aggressive voter suppression campaign by Delta
management, kept thousands from casting a vote.
With only 5,306, or almost 40 percent, of eligible flight attendants voting, the
National Mediation Board (NMB) would not certify the Association of Flight
Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) as the Delta flight attendants' representative after
the all votes were counted. Flight attendants are optimistic that a coming vote
in connection with Delta’s merger with Northwest will result in winning AFA-CWA
representation.
"Delta flight attendants took the next big step
toward gaining a voice and a union contract,” said Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA
International President. “A larger portion of the Delta workforce than ever
before voted for union representation. Those supporters, combined with strong
union support at Northwest, will clearly be enough for the flight attendants to
win union representation after the merger with Northwest is finalized."
AFA-CWA cited management’s voter suppression
efforts as a critical factor in the outcome. "For months, Delta management has
touted its commitment to the democratic process, yet never let up on their
intimidation and coercion of voters. Their empty rhetoric cannot conceal their
interference. The conditions surrounding election were neither free nor fair, as
required by NMB statutes. Now it is up to the National Mediation Board to defend
the Delta flight attendants' right to an election free of interference," said
Friend.
Today's election followed a campaign for AFA-CWA
representation that began in late 2006 when a small group of Delta flight
attendants began collecting the signatures necessary to call for an election.
From the time AFA-CWA filed for an election in February, Delta management has
waged an aggressive campaign to discourage flight attendants from voting. Across
the country, crew rooms were wallpapered with anti-union messages such as "Give
a Rip, Don’t Click, Don’t Vote," instructing flight attendants to rip up their
voting instructions from the NMB and not cast a ballot. In addition, supervisors
attempted to pressure flight attendant activists into discontinuing their
activities in support of union representation. AFA-CWA plans to file formal
interference charges with the NMB by June 6.
"Once again, management has failed to listen to
what employees want,” said Mark Stell, Delta flight attendant and AFA-CWA
activist. “Going into this election, it was clear that Delta flight attendants
wanted a union. We deserve a voice in our future and will not stop until we get
a seat at the table. There is a light at the end of the tunnel however and that
is the second chance we will get to become members of AFA-CWA when this merger
is finalized. Until then, we will work with our colleagues at Northwest Airlines
to make sure that flight attendants are not left behind as the merger
progresses."
Under current NMB rules, when one non-union work
group merges with a union group, if 35 percent of combined workforce has union
representation or signs a union card, a union election will automatically be
called. That vote is expected to occur in early 2009.
For over 60 years, the Association of Flight
Attendants has been serving as the voice for flight attendants in the workplace,
in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill. More than 55,000
flight attendants at 20 airlines come together to form AFA-CWA, the world’s
largest flight attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000-member strong
Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at
www.afanet.org.
Thank You,
Mike Flores, MEC President
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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AFA Local Numbers
Council 41 DCA 703-212-8090
Council 69 BOS 781-289-8454
Council 70 PHL 215-492-0840
Council 82 LGA 315-736-3483
Council 89 CLT 704-527-0325
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