Court Upholds Fair Election Rule for Air and Rail Workers
The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., today upheld the new democratic union election rule for aviation and rail workers issued by the National Mediation Board (NMBM) in 2010.
The aviation industry, led by Delta Airlines, challenged the new rule and today’s decision was the second time a federal court upheld the democratic election rule.
For decades, the deck was stacked against workers covered under the Rail Labor Act (RLA) because every worker who did not cast a vote in a representation election was automatically counted as a “No” vote. The new NMB rule says that an election’s outcome will be decided by the majority of votes cast, just like every other election, from city council to the presidency.
In a statement this afternoon, the Flight Attendants (AFA\CWA) said: Read the rest of this entry »
Republican Attack on Workers’ Rights Puts Aviation Safety at Risk
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UPDATE: Both the House and Senate adjourned this afternoon without taking action on the FAA bill, ensuring a midnight shutdown. Senate Republicans blocked a move for a temporary extension of the agency’s funding.
At midnight tonight, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is slated to run out of money and be forced to suspend vital operations because House Republicans want to deny aviation and rail workers a simple majority vote—the same process that applies to electing lawmakers—on whether to join a union.
Republicans are holding a temporary funding bill hostage because they want to overturn a new rule adopted last year by the National Mediation Board (NMB) that says air and rail elections should be decided by a majority of votes cast. Previously under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), which covers rail and airline workers, each worker who did not cast a vote in a representation election was automatically counted as a “No” vote.
Edward Wytkind, president of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD), says:
Republican leaders are doing the bidding of a few airline CEOs who refuse to allow this bill to move forward unless it eviscerates fair union election rules. No wonder the public is growing weary of the majority leaders in the House and their tactics.
Flight Attendants, FAA Offer Travel Season Safety Tips
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With the Memorial Day holiday and summer travel season approaching, Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) President Veda Shook and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Randy Babbitt kicked off the summer travel season with some helpful tips to educate passengers on how to make air travel as safe as possible.
Shook told a Washington, D.C., press conference this week:
As first responders in the cabin, a Flight Attendant’s foremost responsibility is to help protect the safety and security of our passengers. Through comprehensive training and extensive experience, Flight Attendants are well equipped to ensure passengers arrive at their destination safely and securely.
Airline Unions Form Global Alliance
Fourteen airline unions from the United States and seven other countries have formed a cooperative global organization to give workers a stronger voice in dealing with the world’s major airlines.
The One World of Labor Council was created this week during a two-day meeting of union officials in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Transport Workers (TWU) and sponsored by the London-based International Transport Workers Federation (ITF).
The members of the council, which also includes the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), represent workers at American Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, Chile-based LAN Airlines, and several other carriers that belong to the oneworld global airline alliance.
Global Marches Demand Workers’ Rights in Mexico
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Across the United States and around the world, thousands of working people marched today to demand that Mexico’s government allow its workers to enjoy the freedom to form a union, to create safe workplaces and bargain for family-supporting wages. The marches are part of a global six-day week of action, which began Feb. 14, to call for an end to the intimidation and labor rights violations of workers in Mexico.
At a rally today in front of the Mexican Embassy in Washington, D.C., some 150 union members marched and chanted in English and Spanish: “Defend Trade Union Rights in Mexico” and “Workers Stand Side by Side.”
You can send a message of solidarity with Mexican workers here through LabourStart, the global workers’ news service.
Five years ago this week, 65 miners were killed in an explosion at the Pasta de Conchos mine in Mexico. An independent panel of health and safety experts investigated the explosion and concluded it was the result of negligence by the mine’s owners, Grupo Mexico. To date, no one has been held accountable for the deaths.
Coffee, Tea or Workplace Safety?
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Back when flight attendants were stewardesses and airline ads promoted their good looks and winsome smiles to get you on board, these hardworking airline employees had no job safety and health protection. Today, flight attendants still are not covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and most of his Republicans colleagues want to keep it that way, just like the old days.
The Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), Machinists (IAM) and Transport Workers (TWU) have launched campaigns to fight back. Here’s the latest video from TWU that notes, “Times have changed” and Paul’s efforts put both flight attendants and the flying public at risk.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) bill now in the Senate provides OSHA protection to flight attendants and other air crew. Paul has offered an amendment to cut those protections from the FAA bill, in effect putting both workers and passengers at risk.
Considering the high rate of workplace injuries and the impact on the flying public, flight attendants are speaking out about why this is a serious mistake. Sanitation, air quality, temperature and humidity levels, noise and blood-borne pathogens are just a few of the hazards that go unchecked for flight attendants in their workplace—the aircraft cabin.
What’s next, passenger parachutes for landing?
Delta Flight Attendants Union Vote Begins Today
More than 20,000 flight attendants at Delta and Northwest Airlines began voting today on forming a union with the Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA).
As in past campaigns, Delta is running an anti-union drive with fear and misinformation as the focus. But this time, the situation is different. Delta’s 2008 merger with Northwest brought in some 7,000 attendants who are already union members.
What‘s more, this election,which runs through Nov. 3,will be conducted under the National Mediation Board’s new democratic election rules that allow a majority of votes cast to decide the outcome. Under the old rules, if you did not vote, it was counted as a “No.’
”Finally our voice will be heard and fully respected under strong democratic procedures, the same way that other elections are decided in our country,” flight attendant Toni Weinfurtner says.
We are excited for the opportunity to negotiate an industry-leading contract and continue to work alongside management in building a world class airline. Delta and Northwest flight attendants have waited a long time for this day and are eager to move forward.
Last week, Senate Republicans failed to overturn the new rules. For more information and the latest news on the campaign, visit www.deltaafa.org.
Delta Flight Attendants: We’ve Lost that Family Feeling
At the Delta Airlines website, CEO Richard Anderson boasts that the company is “firmly committed to our environment, safety and social responsibility.”
But some long-time Delta employees say the carrier has forgotten its repsonibilities to its workers.
Marianne Bricksler is among them. Bricksler, who has worked for Delta for 23 years, says:
The company has had five different CEOs since I started working here. The falsehood that they would take care of us [is true] just as long as they’re here. We have to take them at their word and I don’t think I can take them for their word [anymore].
879 Frontier Flight Attendants Join AFA-CWA
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A strong majority of the 879 flight attendants at Frontier Airlines today voted to join the Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA).
Last September, a large group of Frontier flight attendants filed enough signatures for the National Mediation Board to order a representation election. The Frontier flight attendants are the third flight attendant group to choose AFA-CWA in the past year.
Says Erika Schweitzer, transitional AFA-CWA Frontier president:
Frontier flight attendants look forward to negotiating a contract that will protect our interests and address our issues. As AFA-CWA members, we will finally have a legally recognized voice to negotiate with management and gain protections that are specific to the needs of Frontier flight attendants.
AFA-CWA President Patricia Friend welcomed the new members, saying:
Frontier flight attendants have a unique and proud history and with AFA-CWA representation, they will now begin to shape their future through a legally binding contract.
Frontier flight attendants are based in Denver and Milwaukee.
Shook Elected to Lead Flight Attendants
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The Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) Board of Directors yesterday selected Veda Shook as the union’s next president. Shook, who is currently the union’s vice president, will take office at the end of the year, succeeding AFA-CWA President Patricia Friend who will retire Dec. 31, after 15 years of leadership. Friend also serves on the AFL-CIO Executive Council.
The board also elected Sara Nelson as vice president and re-elected Kevin Creighan as secretary-treasurer.
Shook, an 18-year Alaska Airlines flight attendant, has served as AFA-CWA’s vice president since 2007. She has extensive experience as an activist and leader, as well as an advocate for all flight attendants. In charge of AFA-CWA’s organizing department, she has led successful campaigns for workers seeking a union at Lynx Aviation, Ryan International Airlines and USA3000 Airlines. She currently is leading the effort to help workers at Delta/NWA gain union representation.
Nelson is the communications chairperson for United Airlines, where she has been a flight attendant for 14 years. Creighan has served as secretary-treasurer since 2005.
