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Flight Attendants Protest Slow Contract Talks with United |
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Contract negotiations are going way too slowly with United Airlines, so the Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) today is holding informational pickets at 17 different airports around the globe to protest “the failure of United Airlines management to negotiate a new contract on time.”
This from the Daily Labor Report (subscription required):
The AFA’s frustration with United has smoldered for five years, after flight attendants were forced to accept severe wage and benefit cuts as part of the carrier’s reorganization. United’s parent, UAL Corp., emerged from three years in bankruptcy with flight attendants providing $131 million in labor savings annually. Under the 2005 agreement, flight attendants’ hourly wages were trimmed 9.5 percent and their defined benefit pension plan was jettisoned to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. In the intervening years, flight attendants watched wave after wave of layoffs as United realigned operations in response to changing demand for air travel.
The AFA, which represents 15,000 United flight attendants, said in a statement:
Flight attendants are working at 1994 wage levels in the year 2010 and working 48 percent more compared with 2002 schedules and staffing. When United exited bankruptcy, CEO Glenn Tilton alone took a bonus that could have provided a 10 percent pay raise for all 15,000 flight attendants. AFA-CWA members are angry that management has not discussed the improvements envisioned, seeming only interested in delaying a new contract for flight attendants.
American Airlines Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), are strongly supporting the United flight attendants.
Says Laura Glading, APFA president:
We share many issues and concerns with our colleagues at United in our fight for a strong contract. This is not only about improving compensation and working conditions, but raising the living standard for Flights Attendants throughout the industry.
2 Comments
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We all know what would fix this EFCA. It needs to pass NOW, without compromise. Frankly I think it’s more important than a healthcare bill were I’m forced into a system I don’t subscribe to.
To the tune of “Breaking Up is Hard to Do”
Offered in solidarity by Anne Feeney, unionmaid@earthlink.net
http://annefeeney.com
Soon to be the Labor Notes “Song of the Month”
For all IAM & AFA at United……….
Down dooby do down down, we can shut ya down dooby do down down
We can shut ya down dooby do down down
Shut ya down is what we’ll do……
Not long ago we flew those friendly skies
Morale was high – Our stock was on the rise
Now you’re giving us the royal screw
And shut ya down is what we’ll do
You say our wages are to blame
Bucky Brace should hang his head in shame
We made more money back in ‘82
And shut ya down is what we’ll do
Our future is in chaos – We’ve given so much
Those guys on top are way out of touch
BO-NUS!!! What gives you the right????
Four hundred fifty million, Tilton
Tell us how you sleep at night!
The IAM (or AFA) is gonna have its say
The CHAOS game is one that two can play
United workers deserve more from you
And shut ya down is what we’ll do
Well first we tried your ESOP – We gave back our pay
Now you take our pensions away!
Your plans are destined to fail
United workers need a raise, and Tilton, you belong in jail!!
The day will come, just wait and see
What we can do in solidarity
United workers deserve more from you
And shut you down is what we’ll do
Dooby do down down; we can shut ya down dooby do down down
We can shut ya down dooby do down down, and shut ya down is
what we’ll do!
Posted by anne at 11:11 PM 0 comments
Thanks to Anne Feeney