Flight
Attendants Say 'No' to Unrelenting Concessions
PITTSBURGH
- Patricia Friend, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA,
today called on the union's Board of Directors to authorize a nationwide
strike against the concerted effort by airline management to wipe out
union contracts and deprive employees of their livelihood. AFA represents
flight attendants at 26 airlines.
"We
will stand up for the profession we have built by taking a stand for
flight attendants everywhere, in this country and around the world,"
Friend declared to board members at the opening of the board's annual
meeting, in Pittsburgh. "Airline management needs to understand that
there will be serious consequences if they persist in their attacks on our
contracts."
Friend
noted that through bankruptcy, management has made an end run around the
collective bargaining process by threatening liquidation and introducing a
third party, the court, with the power to impose a draconian settlement.
For example, US Airways last week asked a court to approve its plan to
tear up its union contracts, scrap its pension plans and eliminate health
coverage for retirees. United Airlines, the nation's second-largest
carrier, wants nearly $140 million in concessions from flight attendants,
on top of the $314 million annually it has already extracted from the
flight attendant work group. United also seeks hundreds of millions more
by attempting to terminate its pension plans. Seven carriers with AFA
representation are currently in bankruptcy, and others are on the brink.
"Our
entire industry is in turmoil and the careers of our flight attendants all
hang in the balance," Friend said. "Pensions, for which flight
attendants have dedicated many years of hard work, are being wiped out
with the sound of a judge's gavel. Health care coverage for employees in
an essentially unhealthy work environment is reaching cost levels
unaffordable to flight attendants who every year sacrifice more of their
income to 'save their airline.' Almost everywhere we look, flight
attendants are being forced to work longer hours with reduced rest time,
and all for ever-decreasing wages. This must stop"
The
AFA Board of Directors is expected to act on a resolution authorizing a
strike later today.
More
than 46,000 flight attendants join together to form AFA, the world's
largest flight attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000 member strong
Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afanet.org.
The
US Airways negotiating committee is still in session with the Company.
While some progress is being made it is important for us to be prepared
in the event we are unable to reach a consensual agreement. Your MEC is
in full support of the resolution passed at today's board of directors
meeting. As events develop you will be notified via the e-line, hotline,
and website. Thank you for staying informed.
