American Airlines Agents File Petition for CWA Representation Election

'We Have a Great Opportunity to Get a Voice and the Respect We Deserve'

American Airlines passenger service agents, who are fighting for a voice at work through CWA representation, filed a petition Dec. 7 asking the National Mediation Board to set an election date.

The 9,700 American Airlines airport and reservations agents comprise the only major employee group at the airline that doesn't have union representation.

Dallas-Fort Worth agent Rosemary Capasso.

"Now we have a great opportunity to get a voice and the respect we deserve," said Los Angeles-based agent Evelyn Eng.

Eng is among a determined group of agents who began working with CWA long before American Airlines filed for bankruptcy protection on Nov. 29. Now, agents say it's more important than ever to organize in order to ensure that workers have a voice in the bankruptcy proceedings.

"Getting a union is the only way that we, as unrepresented agents, can limit our losses during what will be a difficult period," Dallas-Fort Worth agent Rosemary Capasso said. "As American's only non-union workgroup, we are tired of being asked to provide 'input' and then have management alter or totally ignore our wishes and impose whatever changes it wants."

Those changes include deep cuts in compensation in 2003 and more recent rollbacks in health care coverage. Meanwhile, new employees are being hired for significantly lower pay, reduced benefits and fewer paid days off.

Despite having $4.1 billion in cash on hand, American Airlines management has indicated that wages, benefits and working conditions will be a major focus of its cost-reduction effort.

That's why a union now is essential, said AFA-CWA member Deb Sutor, pledging that she and fellow American Eagle flight attendants will be supporting the organizing campaign.

"Having a union and bargaining rights during bankruptcy is the strongest protection workers can have," Sutor said. "American Eagle management will have to sit down and bargain with us over any concessions that it wants. It can't just impose conditions as it sees fit."