Dear Council 70 Flying Partners,

AFA is the largest Flight Attendant Union in the world, however, that does NOT mean that every airline out there is represented by AFA. For instance, American, and Southwest do not belong to AFA.

Our Management thinks and acts just like Lorenzo. Because other unions can see the similarity, because they know that if a judge is allowed to step in and reject our contracts without a fight, that theirs may not be far behind, I am not surprised to see support for our position to authorize a strike in the event even one FA contract is rejected by the courts. 

I am, however, pleasantly surprised that our first "outside" offer of support is coming from the FA's at the Largest airline in the world! 

Please, the best way to stave off a possible strike is to give an unanimous "Authorization" to do one if our contract is rejected. Let the other side know, that this is not a hollow threat. Let them know through the power & strength of YOUR VOTE that we mean business. THEY started us down this path and ONLY THEY can stop the madness by withdrawing the 1113 c and continuing on with Negotiations through the natural Collective Bargaining process. 

Let them know that it will not look too good on their resumes if the entire nation goes on strike because they could neither keep their word nor honor a handshake. 

The stronger OUR authorization to strike, the less likely we will have to. VOTE IN FAVOR to "Authorize" a strike if any FA contract is rejected by the courts or a carrier.

Please read the article below. 

Take Care and Fly Safe,

Mollie McCarthy
LEC President 
Council 70 PHL/PHW


Union Issues Statement of Support on Strike Anniversary

Euless, TX (Nov. 18) - On the eleventh anniversary of the American Airlines flight attendants' strike, Tommie Hutto-Blake, President of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) representing more than 25,000 American Airlines Flight Attendants, has announced her support for the US Airways and United Airlines flight attendants in their quest to protect and preserve their wages, work rules, and retirement benefits. "These are career workers who had to fight for the right to hold a job following marriage, becoming a parent and working beyond age 32, as well as the right to receive the same treatment as their colleagues in the cockpit. And now, these same flight attendants are being forced to fight for their very existence."

"We, at APFA, understand their frustration and resolve to take their very compelling disputes from the courtroom to the streets. Watching the management styles of their carriers reminds this industry and its workers of the '80s when Frank Lorenzo destroyed the careers of airline workers, from his low cost airline-People's Express to his network airlines Eastern and Continental." President Hutto-Blake goes on to state, "To see Lorenzo, who was denied the ability to reenter this industry by federal regulators, quoted in the news media this week as an 'expert airline veteran' is certainly further disheartening."

"This is a man who wantonly abrogated the collective bargaining agreements of the companies he drove out of business in the '80s and early '90s. The fact that he is now asserting that there is 'more sunshine through these dark clouds' - is a sad statement of where these two carriers may be headed. We certainly hope that his comments do not foreshadow US Airways or United adopting Lorenzo's destructive management style that reflected nothing but disdain for employees and their many years of loyal service." 

"APFA remains cautiously optimistic that unions and senior management at American Airlines can work together to seek solutions to the many challenges that lay ahead for our company and the industry without further concessionary bargaining. We are firm in our resolve to chart a different labor-relations course at American Airlines. We will continue to keep a close eye on the developments at United and US Airways, and we express our full support for our flight attendant colleagues at these airlines."

We at APFA urge the traveling public, legislators, and the media to watch what is happening on these two properties closely. Thousands of employees at UAL and USAir and their families are at risk.