AFA-CWA Leading Airport Actions to Prevent Another FAA Shutdown

As part of CWA's Accountability Actions for August and September, AFA-CWA flight attendants are calling on Congress to fully fund the Federal Aviation Administration and to keep the democratic voting standard for union representation elections.

"It is beyond time to negotiate a long-term FAA Reauthorization bill that improves our aviation infrastructure, grows our economy, delivers hundreds of new jobs, and keeps elections fair for airline and railway employees," said AFA-CWA President Veda Shook.

This week, AFA-CWA members are holding rallies and are picketing at airports and congressional district offices, including in the home district of Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), who played a key role forcing a shutdown of the FAA for nearly two weeks. Flight attendants are holding "stand-up" media events at Orlando and Jacksonville International Airports and will rally outside Mica's St. Augustine and Daytona district offices. Mica also was greeted by AFA-CWA members and allies outside a fundraiser in Houston.

Additional actions have been planned at airports in Seattle, Phoenix, Portland, Ore., Philadelphia, Charlotte, and Atlanta for Aug. 16 and at Chicago O'Hare on Aug. 26. More events will be held as Congress returns to work in September.

The FAA shutdown put more than 70,000 Americans out of work and cost the government nearly $300 million in lost revenue to pay for ongoing airport infrastructure and modernization projects.