Union Vote Falls Short, CWA Stands with American Airlines Agents

Washington, D.C. -- The vote for union representation among passenger service agents at American Airlines fell 150 votes short of the required majority of voting agents, but the Communications Workers of America will continue to work with agents for a voice on the job and in their future. The National Mediation Board announced the vote today.

Hundreds of agents at American Airlines have been active in this fight for a union for more than 15 years, and they won’t stop now. There is no doubt that this group will get the union voice they want. And the potential merger of American Airlines and US Airways provides another opportunity for American agents to have a union voice, since US Airways agents have union representation.

American Airlines filed for bankruptcy in late 2011, with $4 billion in the bank. Last year, it cut 2,000 agents’ jobs, and forced some reservations agents to work at home or leave the airline. There are just about 7,800 agents today, down from 10,000 less than a year ago.

“The fact that agents even got to this election is a feat in itself. Agents at American Airlines will continue to stand strong and work for a voice at their airline, and CWA will be with them,” said CWA Organizing Director Sandy Rusher. “These are amazing leaders who have given their heart, integrity, intelligence, commitment and determination to this effort. We’ll continue to work with them.”

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Contact: Candice Johnson or Chuck Porcari, CWA Communications, 202-434-1168, cjohnson@cwa-union.org and cporcari@cwa-union.org