Tag Archives: Flight Attendants

Piedmont Airlines’ flight attendants ratify the new contract

Piedmont Airlines’ (2nd) (US Airways Express) (Salisbury) flight attendants, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), have voted to ratify a new five-year collective bargaining agreement that was reached on March 6. The new contract was ratified by the airline’s 180 flight attendants who are based in Harrisburg, PA; Salisbury, MA; Charlottesville, VA; Roanoke, VA and New Bern, NC.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier (de Havilland Canada) DHC-8-102 N908HA (msn 015) of Piedmont Airlines (2nd) taxies to the runway at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) hub.

Piedmont Airlines-US Airways Express:

Delta’s flight attendants to use Nokia Lumia 1520 phablets for in-flight sales

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) this fall will equip more than 20,000 flight attendants with handheld Nokia Lumia 1520 phablets, which will serve as their on-board manual and in-flight sales device as well as a platform for future, more personalized in-flight customer service. The Lumia 1520 features a larger format, 6-inch screen and will replace the smaller Lumia 820 already in the hands of Delta on-board professionals.

Providing electronic access to the more than 500 page, five pound On-Board Manual carried by every flight attendant is expected to save more than $1 million annually in reduced fuel and printing costs while providing on board professionals a more intuitive way to access essential information.

In addition to its functionality as an in-flight sales device and replacement for the on-board manual, the Nokia Lumia 1520 phablet, running Windows Phone 8.1, will, as it develops, enable flight attendants to take customer meal orders, receive detailed information about their flight and provide information for personalized service, including customers’ frequent flyer status and potential need for special services during flight.

Devices will be distributed starting in October with all flight attendants receiving the device by the end of the year. The solution was developed jointly by Microsoft, Avanade, Nokia and AT&T and is the latest in a number of employee and customer-facing technology innovations Delta has made in recent years. Last September, Delta announced its pilots would receive Surface 2 tablets to be used initially as electronic flight bags and be developed into a multi-functional device that can be integrated across the airline operation.

Delta Air Lines (current):

US Airways flight attendants vote to join forces with American Airlines flight attendants

US Airways Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), voted to ratify an Agreement on Bargaining and Representation between AFA and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) along with a Negotiations Protocol Agreement with American Airlines management. The agreement establishes a joint negotiations protocol for a single contract at the New American Airlines with the assurance of improvements in one year for all 24,000 Flight Attendants.

Beginning next week, AFA and APFA will form a joint negotiating team with an equal number of representatives and professional advisors as they spend the next 60 days preparing an opening proposal based on the best of both contracts and input from all Flight Attendants at the New American. Management has agreed to meet for 150 days with an intensive schedule that averages three weeks a month in an effort to reach an agreement on a combined contract. The parties will utilize the mediation services of the National Mediation Board and other expedited bargaining methods. If an agreement cannot be reached, only the open items will be submitted to arbitration based on an economic standard that will produce improvements over the current contracts. The entire process includes timelines that lead to implementation of a new single contract no later than the first quarter of 2015.

The agreement transitions representation for the combined group to the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA). The unions will jointly file a single carrier petition with the National Mediation Board in June, which will lead to certification of APFA as the representative in summer or fall. AFA will continue to work in partnership with APFA until the joint bargaining process is concluded and the new contract is implemented. Even after APFA’s certification, AFA will continue to enforce the current US Airways contract and related grievances.

Alaska Airlines’ flight attendants reject the tentative agreement, demand improvements

Alaska Airlines‘ (Seattle/Tacoma) flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), have voted down a tentative agreement with management.

According to the union, “negotiations began two years ago and, in May 2013, AFA filed for mediation with the National Mediation Board. During negotiations, Alaska Airlines earned record-breaking profits and continued to earn top awards and accolades for customer satisfaction with the assistance of the Flight Attendants. Next, AFA will re-survey the over 3,100 Flight Attendants to determine their top priorities. The National Mediation Board retains oversight of future negotiations.”

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-990 N323AS (msn 30021) taxies to the active runway at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport base and hub.

Alaska Airlines:

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):

AFA works to build a coalition to fight the U.S. operations of Norwegian Long Haul

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) has issued this statement against Norwegian hiring U.S.-based Flight Attendants:

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) today met with a broad labor coalition and government representatives from Norway to discuss the detrimental effects Norwegian Air International’s attempt to bypass international labor laws will have on aviation workers around the world. AFA, part of a delegation comprised of union representatives, issued the following statement concerning current hiring practices by Norwegian Air International:

“Today we joined our aviation colleagues and industry leaders to discuss strategies and alternatives that would ensure Norwegian does not erode labor laws or the careers of U.S. Flight Attendants as they work to expand their business.

“History has shown that when companies find a way to take advantage of loopholes that assist in evading strong labor provisions, a global race to the bottom begins, leaving behind workers and communities. For nearly 70 years, AFA has been dedicated to protecting the Flight Attendant career, standing against any attempt to create a position that has little room for advancement and no job security. We are concerned that Norwegian’s announcement to hire U.S.-based Flight Attendants to staff international flights undercuts labor laws, paying outsourced workers a fraction of what Norwegian Flight Attendants earn.

“For decades, AFA has worked closely with our counterparts across the world for global labor standards that protect careers and enhance aviation growth. While we are dedicated to creating opportunities that expand business, it is imperative that airlines work collaboratively with unions and workers so that everyone is able to share in the success.

“AFA remains dedicated to our long-standing mission of uniting all Flight Attendants, regardless of carrier. We stand in unity with our counterparts at Norwegian in their fight to retain good jobs. Norwegian’s attempt to outsource Flight Attendant positions, not only bypasses Norway’s labor laws that protect workers, but it erodes careers of U.S. Flight Attendants who have worked for nearly seven decades to build an enduring career.

“In our global aviation environment, it is imperative that we all work together to ensure that workers are treated fairly and are recognized for the role they have in their airline’s success.”

Norwegian hires 170 American flight attendants

Norwegian Long Haul (Norwegian Air Shuttle) (Norwegian.com) (Oslo) has been recruiting for American employees since October 2012 to serve as flight attendants. The airline has received over 5,500 applications for the 300 open positions. So far it has hired 170 flight attendants for based positions in New York and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood. Another 130 FAs will be hired. Some of the recruits have finished their training and are already flying as we previously reported.

All new employees work under U.S. pay standards and conditions.

Norwegian’s long-haul routes in 2014:

Bangkok: Oslo and Stockholm
New York City: Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo and London
Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood: Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen and London
Los Angeles: Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen and London
San Francisco: Oslo and Stockholm
Orlando: Oslo

Norwegian:

Video: New crew members talk about working for Norwegian:

United Airlines flight attendants express outrage at the loss of jobs

United Airlines‘ (Chicago) flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), have issued this statement concerning United’s plans to furlough around 685 flight attendants as part of a $2 million annual cost-cutting plan announced in 2013:

United Airlines Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), express outrage at an attempt by United management to side-step United AFA representatives. This afternoon (January 22), Greg Davidowitch, AFA President at United denounced management’s tactics as seeking to destroy jobs and to destroy the bargaining rights of the United Flight Attendants.

United Flight Attendants learned yesterday (January 21) that management intends to do an end-run around the legal representatives for United Flight Attendants as we take all legal steps to prevent an involuntary furlough. Running from the pressure brought by the United AFA leadership, and the demands of their employees, management has moved from their position that the only option was an involuntary furlough at the United subsidiary. Having first refused to agree to numerous proposals offered by the AFA at United, management chose instead to undermine the collective bargaining process and, as described in a letter to employees, management stated, “we’ve decided to act on our own.”

Unilaterally changing the terms of employment, and bypassing the representatives of the duly certified exclusive union representative are violations of the Railway Labor Act.

“Management doesn’t need this furlough. They want it. Yesterday (January 21) United Airlines SVP, Sam Risolideliberately circumvented United AFA leadership to achieve an agenda that has nothing to do with managing staffing concerns,” said Greg Davidowitch. “Management is trying to force United Flight Attendants to give up their contract and their seniority to take jobs on the Continental side of the operation. Even as a valid, negotiated choice for Flight Attendants, this would not even provide job options to cover management’s desired furlough numbers. Management has refused to agree to the reasonable proposals presented by United AFA negotiators for mitigating the declared furlough altogether.”

“United Flight Attendants don’t want to be furloughed and forced into a position of an ultimatum of having to seek employment at Continental, and they certainly don’t want to be told what their priorities are,” saidGreg Davidowitch. “United Flight Attendant’s are the backbone of United and have sacrificed time and again for the success of our airline. We cannot do it alone.”

“United Flight Attendants have a long and proud history and are prepared to aggressively defend our contract and our jobs. Management tactics with the intent of harming United Flight Attendants are not the path to unity and success. We will hold management accountable for their actions if they involuntarily furlough even a single flight attendant. We do not want to fight, but we will never back down in defense of our members. Never. And that is the real reason for management’s attack on these dedicated Flight Attendants and all of our flying partners who care deeply about them.”

United Airlines (current):

United Airlines (historic):

Norwegian hires and graduates its first U.S.-based flight attendants

Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian Long Haul) (Norwegian.com) (Oslo) has hired and graduated its first U.S. citizen and New York-based flight attendant group. Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood will soon have a base of U.S. flight attendants. The airline issued this short statement and photo on its Facebook page:

Say hi to our newest members of the Norwegian-family; cabin crew from our new base in New York. Welcome aboard!

Norwegian:

Spirit Airlines and Association of Flight Attendants agree to a tentative agreement

Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) and its flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), announced that they reached a tentative agreement for a five-year contract. The tentative agreement, which is subject to ratification by the flight attendant membership, planned for first quarter 2014, was unanimously supported by the union’s leadership. The agreement was reached with the assistance of the National Mediation Board.

Spirit Airlines: