Tag Archives: association of flight attendants

Unions call for “free and fair union elections” at Delta Air Lines shareholder meeting

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Association of Flight Attendants and the IAM issued this statement:

Delta Air Lines workers and labor unions will hold a media event outside the carrier’s shareholder meeting in New York City on Thursday, June 15 at 7 a.m. ET.

Delta workers and the unions they are seeking to join are supporting the shareholder adoption of a non-interference policy at the carrier. Shareholder proxies will attend the shareholder meeting to push for Delta to commit to International Labour Organization (ILO) standards on freedom of association, as other airlines have, and to neutrality in union organizing campaigns.

Forty-five thousand Delta employees are actively organizing to join three unions: Delta ramp, cargo and tower workers are seeking to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). Delta flight attendants are organizing for representation with the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA). Delta mechanics and related workers are organizing to join the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT).

In the past, Delta Air Lines management has threatened employees with termination for union activities and continues to host an anti-union website and distribute literature that can be viewed as threatening to employees seeking to unionize.

It is believed that Delta spent approximately $38 million to oppose a flight attendant union campaign in 2010. Its anti-union activities have caused brand damage, including broad media coverage of a 2019 anti-union flyer that told employees to spend money on video games instead of union dues.

Alaska Airlines and its flight attendants tentatively agree on a five-year contract

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) and the Association of Flight Attendants have announced they have reached tentative agreement on a new five-year contract for the carrier’s 3,300 flight attendants.

Once the tentative agreement is approved by the union’s leadership, Alaska Airlines’ flight attendants will conduct a ratification vote that is expected to be completed in December.

Under the Railway Labor Act, which governs collective bargaining agreements in the airline industry, contracts do not expire. Instead they become amendable. The prior contract was effective in 2010 and became amendable in May 2012.

Alaska Airlines:

United Airlines to pay its flight attendants $100,000 to leave the company, will recall all furloughed FAs

United Airlines (Chicago) has issued this statement:

United Airlines and the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) announced that United will offer its Flight Attendants an Enhanced Early Out Program, which allows participants a one-time opportunity to voluntarily separate from the company and receive a severance payment. United also announced that it is recalling all Flight Attendants who are on voluntary and involuntary furlough.

United will offer lump sum payouts of up to $100,000 for Flight Attendants who apply for the early out and meet certain service and eligibility qualifications, and the company will award early outs in seniority order.

“We’re excited to offer this extraordinary early out program, and we look forward to rewarding Flight Attendants who’ve contributed so much to United over the years,” said Sam Risoli, United’s senior vice president, Inflight Services. “Working together with the AFA Master Executive Council Presidents Ken Diaz, Suzanne Hendricks and Marcus Valentino, we were able to develop a program that provides great benefits, minimizes disruption to Flight Attendants due to staffing imbalances and at the same time helps us be more competitive.”

“United’s investment in this Enhanced Early Out benefits United and all our Flight Attendants represented by the AFA,” said Mike Bonds, executive vice president, Human Resources and Labor Relations. “Recalling furloughed Flight Attendants and aligning our staffing to match our flying schedule will further facilitate the company and AFA reaching a joint collective bargaining agreement. It’s another positive step in what has become a productive relationship with AFA.”

United has more than 23,000 flight attendants.

Narita-based Japanese national Flight Attendants employed by CMI, and who are not employed by United or represented by AFA, have their own severance and early-retirement terms provided in their collective bargaining agreement under Japanese law, and therefore are not eligible for the United Airlines Enhanced Early Out Program.

United has achieved joint collective bargaining agreements with a majority of its represented work force, including pilots, dispatchers, fleet service, passenger service, reservations and storekeeper workgroups. The company is engaged in expedited negotiations with the AFA and is in mediation with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), representing United’s technicians.

Read the analysis by Bloomberg Businessweek: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-724 N16709 (msn 28779) departs from Washington’s Reagan National Airport.

United Airlines (Current):

The flight attendant unions at American Airlines and US Airways start negotiations for a single contract

The Association of Flight Attendants, representing the flight attendants at US Airways (Phoenix) and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, reprinting the flight attendants at American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth), issued this statement as they begin negotiations for a new contract:

As record breaking profits for the new American Airlines were announced earlier yesterday, Flight Attendants represented by Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (US Airways) and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (American) together met with management to submit an opening proposal for a single contract covering the combined workgroup. Today’s negotiations were part of an agreement ratified in February 2014 that outlined a specific process in which a single contract would be reached.

“Flight Attendants are ready to take full advantage of the benefits of the US Airways/American merger. Our contributions have helped create an efficient combination of our airlines and we look forward to improvements afforded through the largest network in the world. By using the combined strength and resources of our two unions, we are prepared to negotiate the best contract at the world’s biggest airline,” said Roger Holmin, AFA US Airways President.

Beginning today, negotiations will continue for the next 150 days with an intensive schedule in order to reach an agreement on a combined contract. With the assistance of the National Mediation Board and other expedited bargaining methods, it is expected that a new agreement will be in place by early 2015.

“What’s good news for American is great news for Flight Attendants. As the face of this airline, we will continue to work hard to make the company a success. [American CEO] Doug Parker knows that, and I feel confident that we’ll reach an agreement that recognizes the Flight Attendants’ contribution and commitment to the new American,” said APFA President Laura Glading.

Copyright Photo: Boeing 737-823 N807NN (msn 31077) of American Airlines taxies at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

American Airlines (current):

US Airways:

United Airlines and Association of Flight Attendants agree to avert any involuntary furloughs

United Airlines (Chicago) and the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) have agreed to advert all involuntary furloughs. The AFA issued this statement: The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), representing over 25,000 Flight Attendants at United Airlines, announced an agreement with United management that averts involuntary furloughs at the world’s leading airline through improved voluntary options. The mutual agreement between AFA and management also provides employment for Flight Attendants originally slated to lose their jobs by offering an enhanced crossover agreement to pre-merger Continental Airlines. In other news, United will end the Washington (Dulles)-San Salvador route on March 31 per Airline Route. The route is currently operated three days a week with Boeing 737-800s. Additionally the carrier will launch daily summer United Express service between the Denver hub and Sun Valley, Idaho from July 2 through September 22 with Bombardier CRJ700s.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-824 N26210 (msn 28770) in the Star Alliance colors arrives at the Washington (Dulles) hub.

United Airlines (current):

Spirit Airlines’ flight attendants vote down the latest contract offer

Spirit Airlines‘ (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) voted against a new tentative agreement.

The AFA issued this statement:

A majority of Flight Attendants at Spirit Airlines, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), today voted against a tentative agreement with management. Their strong vote makes it clear that Spirit Flight Attendants expect more for their outstanding contributions to the profitable airline.

“Spirit Flight Attendants have sent a loud and clear message that management’s offer fails to address our needs and does not reflect our true worth. We remain focused on our future. Our demands at the bargaining table are now formally supported by an overwhelming message from the front lines of our airline,” said Todd St. Pierre, AFA President at Spirit. “We expect a substantial return for our contributions to the success of Spirit Airlines. It is well past time for management to negotiate an agreement that can be ratified and meets the priorities identified by Spirit Flight Attendants.”

AFA will survey the more than 1,200 Flight Attendants to focus efforts on the issues that matter most to Spirit Flight Attendants. The National Mediation Board, which has been mediating between the parties since 2009, retains oversight of future negotiations.

Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. Still painted in the old 2004 black livery, Airbus A319-132 N510NK (msn 2622) prepares to land in Las Vegas.

Spirit Airlines:

Alaska Airlines and the Association of Flight Attendants reach a tentative agreement

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) and the Association of Flight Attendants announced they have reached tentative agreement on a new five-year contract for the carrier’s 3,300 flight attendants.

Once the tentative agreement is approved by the union’s leadership, Alaska Airlines’ flight attendants will conduct a ratification vote that is expected to be completed in mid-February 2014.

The current contract became amendable on May 1, 2012. Contracts in the airline industry do not expire. Once they become amendable, the current contract remains in effect until a new agreement is ratified.

Copyright Photo: Eddie Maloney/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-890 N568AS (msn 35183) in the special “Employee powered” livery arrives in Las Vegas.

Alaska Airlines:

Hawaiian Airlines’ flight attendants ratify a new narrow-body aircraft agreement

Hawaiian Airlines‘ (Honolulu) flight attendants have ratified a tentative agreement reached earlier this month between the company and the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) on new contract terms covering the operation of long-range, single-aisle aircraft the company plans to acquire to complement its current fleet of wide-body aircraft serving Hawai’i from the U.S. West Coast.

On January 7, Hawaiian announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with airframe manufacturer Airbus to acquire 16 new A321neo aircraft between 2017 and 2020, with rights to purchase an additional nine aircraft.

The company also announced that the acquisitions are contingent upon the signing of new agreements with its pilots’ and flight attendants’ unions covering operation of the new aircraft type.

Hawaiian’s pilots ratified a similar agreement between the company and the Air Line Pilots Association on January 28.

The fleet expansion is expected to generate roughly 1,000 new jobs at Hawaiian.

The long-range, single-aisle A321neo aircraft will complement Hawaiian’s existing fleet of
wide-body, twin-aisle aircraft used for long-haul flying between Hawai’i and the U.S. West Coast.

At 146-feet-long, the A321neo will seat approximately 190 passengers in a two-class configuration (First and Coach) and has a range of 3,650 nautical miles. The aircraft will offer the more comfortable seat widths found in the twin-aisle A330.

Copyright Photo: Andy Jung. Hawaiian currently operates the narrow-body Boeing 717 in the inter-island network. The new A321s will open some new thin long-range Mainland routes previously pioneered by Aloha Airlines and largely filled recently by Alaska Airlines with its Boeing 737-800s. The pictured Boeing 717-2BD N488HA (msn 55101) arrives at the Honolulu hub.

Hawaiian Airlines:

US Airways and the Association of Flight Attendants reach a tentative agreement

US Airways (Phoenix) has announced that it has reached a new tentative agreement on a collective bargaining agreement with the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), which represents the airline’s 6,800 mainline flight attendants. Details of the agreement will be made available by AFA.

If ratified, the tentative agreement would cover the airline’s 6,800 mainline flight attendants, who are based in US Airways’ three hub cities of Phoenix, Philadelphia and Charlotte, N.C., and in its Washington, D.C. focus city.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Airbus A319-132 N837AW (msn 2595) dressed in the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL motif arrives at Baltimore/Washington.

US Airways:

Pinnacle Airlines reaches a tentative contract agreement with its flight attendants

Pinnacle Airlines Corporation’s (Memphis) wholly owned subsidiary, Pinnacle Airlines Inc. (Memphis), announced it has reached a tentative agreement with the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), the legal representative of the Pinnacle Airlines Flight Attendant group. Pinnacle is seeking concessions from all of its employees in order to emerge successfully from Chapter 11 proceedings with a competitive cost structure. The two sides reached a tentative agreement on concessions that cover pay, retirement, work rules and benefits. The concessions would become effective when concessions are implemented for other labor groups and non-union employees. AFA members at the airline will now have the opportunity to vote on the tentative agreement in the coming days and, if ratified, will avoid the Section 1113 litigation process in bankruptcy court.

The tentative agreement also remains subject to required corporate approvals and review by the Bankruptcy Court.

Delta Connection-Pinnacle: