]> http://www.laborradio.org/taxonomy/term/76/0 Association of Flight Attendants en http://www.laborradio.org/node/8167 <p>By Doug Cunningham</p> <p>Delta Airlines flight attendants will soon get the chance to vote on whether they want to join the Association of Flight Attendants –CWA. The National Mediation Board this week authorized the representation election. AFA-CWA President Patricia Friend said flight attendants know that her union has experience in the fluctuations of the airline industry and have learned how to negotiate programs that offer real solutions for airline workers. The National Mediation Board now will schedule an election for the 13,000 Delta flight attendants. The election will be secret ballot</p> AFA Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:59:28 -0700 http://www.laborradio.org/node/7899 <p>Flight attendants for Delta Airlines are taking another shot at gaining union representation. Jesse Russell reports:</p> <p>With Delta Airlines considering a merger with Northwest or United Airlines, flight attendants are aiming once again for union representation. Workers are seeking representation by the Association of Flight Attendants, a division of the Communication Workers of America. If 35 percent of the flight attendants file cards on Thursday in favor of an election, the National Mediation Board will call an election. The last time the flight attendants sought union representation at Delta was in 2001. In that election, representation was rejected. The AFA already represents the flight attendants at Northwest Airlines. Overall, the union represents more than 55,000 attendants in the industry. An announcement about a merger could come as early as this week.</p> AFA Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:10:57 -0800 http://www.laborradio.org/node/7644 <p>By Doug Cunningham</p> <p>Union leaders representing 90,000 flight attendants are meeting in Washington for a three-day bargaining summit. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, Transport Workers Union and the International Association of Machinists are preparing an overall strategy to try to secure gains in upcoming contract after years of deep concessions imposed through bankruptcies.</p> AFA IAM TWU Mon, 07 Jan 2008 19:08:21 -0800 http://www.laborradio.org/node/7211 <p>By Doug Cunningham </p> <p>Reacting to five U.S. Airways crew members being sickened by carbon monoxide fumes on an aircraft, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA says it could have been prevented. Union president, Pat Friend says poor cabin air quality has been an issue front and center for the AFA-CWA for years. Friend says efforts to improve cabin air quality on flights has been thwarted by airlines management and the Federal Aviation Administration.</p> AFA Mon, 05 Nov 2007 16:57:23 -0800 http://www.laborradio.org/node/6793 <p>By Doug Cunningham</p> <p>A bankruptcy judge Tuesday agreed with the Association of Flight Attendants, CWA and denied millions of dollars in extra fees to law firms that represented Northwest airlines in its bankruptcy. Two more requests for extra fees will be heard later. The union had argued that if the company has extra millions laying around, they should go to the workers, who had to endure deep pay and benefits cuts in the bankruptcy.</p> AFA Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:02:58 -0700 http://www.laborradio.org/node/6291 <p>By Doug Cunningham</p> <p>Northwest Airlines flight attendants represented by the AFA-CWA have received cash and 401(K) contributions of about $14,500 each. The money comes from a $182 million equity claim negotiated by the union during Northwest’s bankruptcy. Flight attendants were forced by the bankruptcy to accept pay and benefits cuts of roughly forty percent.</p> AFA Northwest Tue, 03 Jul 2007 15:06:18 -0700 http://www.laborradio.org/node/6102 <p>By Doug Cunningham</p> <p>A passengers rights group has joined the AFA-CWA flight attendants union in urging Congress to make changes in aviation policy on ho long passengers have to stay onboard planes when there are delays in the flight schedule. The Coalition for A Passengers Bill of Rights wants Congress to enforce a deplanement policy, upgrade the air traffic control system, standardize carry-on baggage policies and provide a safer working environment for flight attendants.</p> AFA Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:39:32 -0700 http://www.laborradio.org/node/6087 <p>By Doug Cunningham</p> <p>AFA-CWA President Patricia Friend is testifying before Congress today on the need to include flight attendant fatigue concerns in National Transportation Safety Board recommendations on reducing accidents on flights. Friend says fatigue is a very real and serious concern for both flight attendants and the flying public because fatigued flight attendants poses potential safety risks. Friend says it’s critical that NTSB recommendations adequately address fatigue issues.</p> AFA Tue, 05 Jun 2007 16:39:03 -0700 http://www.laborradio.org/node/6057 <p>By Doug Cunningham</p> <p>AFA-CWA, the union representing Northwest Airlines flight attendants, is providing an average of $14,500 per flight attendant to help offset losses suffered by workers during Northwest Airlines bankruptcy. The money comes from the sale of a $182 million bankruptcy equity claim. The union is getting nearly 65 cents on the dollar for the claim. The proceeds will be given to the workers 40 percent in cash and 60 percent as 401(k) contributions within two to three weeks. Some Northwest Airlines workers will also get stock in the bankruptcy reorganization after the union sued</p> AFA Northwest Thu, 31 May 2007 18:05:52 -0700 http://www.laborradio.org/node/6024 <p>By Doug Cunningham</p> <p>The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and the Airline Pilots Association are rallying Wednesday in Minnesota to protest the growing pay disparity between company executives and employees at Northwest Airlines. The rally in St. Paul Minnesota will be at the state capitol. Workers and unions from across Minnesota have been invited to the rally. The pilot’s union will set up it’s 25 foot tall inflatable rat on the capitol grounds as working families protest the huge pay inequity between executives and workers.</p> AFA Minnesota Mon, 28 May 2007 13:52:34 -0700 http://www.laborradio.org/node/5885 <p>Northwest Airlines workers are objecting to a reorganization plan. Jesse Russell reports:</p> <p>By Jesse Russell</p> <p>Pilots, baggage handlers, and flight attendants have objected to part of Northwest Airlines reorganization that will give nearly five percent of the company to 400 top executives. The three unions that represent those workers protested the move suggesting it would be too costly for the airline as it attempts to lift off from bankruptcy. The flight attendants are currently voting on a new contract that would lock in pay cuts for four years. They need to approve the contract if the union wishes to have a stake in the reorganization. </p> AFA Northwest Wed, 09 May 2007 17:40:25 -0700 http://www.laborradio.org/node/5851 <p>By Doug Cunningham</p> <p>Northwest Airlines flight attendants have won a round in bankruptcy court - a $65 million claim on payment for preferred Series C stock. The Association of Flight Attendants - CWA had sued on behalf of the flight attendants who held the company Series C preferred stock and the court upheld the claim. Workers holding those stocks will now be compensated. That stock was issued by Northwest in an agreement with the Teamsters, who in 1993 was the union representing the flight attendants. Northwest tried to stiff the workers on the stock's value by declaring bankruptcy, but the workers have won a bankruptcy court claim.</p> AFA Northwest Thu, 03 May 2007 16:03:43 -0700 http://www.laborradio.org/node/5798 <p>By Doug Cunningham</p> <p>Hobbled by court rulings that let Northwest Airlines throw out union contracts and prevent the union from striking, the Association of Flight Attendants CWA has reached a tentative agreement with Northwest giving the airline the huge concessions it was after. AFA-CWA’s Master Executive Council Vice-President Andy Wisbach.</p> <p>[Wisbacher]: “It's still a deal that represents $195 million of concessions to the company. We were able to get some movement on some non-economic items - I understand some scheduling issues and things like that. But as far as the economic items, there was no change on that."</p> AFA Northwest Thu, 26 Apr 2007 16:46:04 -0700 http://www.laborradio.org/node/5768 <p>By Doug Cunningham</p> <p>The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and Northwest Airlines are in intense federally mediated negotiations that started Friday. It’s the latest effort to reach an agreement on huge concessions demanded by Northwest as the airline used bankruptcy proceedings to try to destroy union contracts.</p> AFA Northwest Mon, 23 Apr 2007 16:04:52 -0700 http://www.laborradio.org/node/5747 <p>By Doug Cunningham</p> <p>Northwest Airlines flight attendants picketed in Detroit Thursday to protest a plan to give 400 executives a 4.9 percent share of ownership in the airline when it emerges from bankruptcy. The executives are being rewarded while the workers who make the airline fly are being forced to sacrifice with deep pay and benefits cuts. The Association for Flight Attendants-CWA is fighting a court-imposed ban on a strike at Northwest and has asked that contract talks with the bankrupt airline be officially declared at an impasse. Northwest has begun making substantial profits - much sooner than it told the bankruptcy it would. So the union maintains that the steep concessions from workers are no longer needed.</p> AFA Northwest Thu, 19 Apr 2007 15:21:14 -0700