How Has the Airline Industry Changed?

Today, airlines have become global commodities where outsourcing is the new economic standard for airline service work. Consolidation and mergers have reshaped the industry. AFA-CWA is the safeguard to ensuring that flight attendants continue to advance as safety and security professionals.

Challenges include bargaining with merged or bankrupt airlines, or, as passenger service agents at American Airlines know too well, fighting back against management’s attack on their democratic rights.

American Airlines

American Airlines passenger service agents now are voting for union representation. It’s been a long time coming, with many agents working to get a union for 15 years. American Airlines fought the workers at every turn (see timeline below.)

The election got underway Dec. 4, with the vote to be tallied and announced on Jan. 15, 2013.

US Airways

US Airways and America West merged seven years ago, but getting a fair contract that covers flight attendants from both parts of the company is tough going. AFA-CWA members have made it clear to management, through demonstrations and a 94 percent approval of strike authorization, that is has to be “Our Contract First,” especially as US Airways looks at merger with American Airlines. The National Mediation Board is involved in the negotiations.

Passenger service agents also are in tough bargaining with USAirways. The company will post what it calls a “modest” profit for the last quarter of this year, and all expect 2013 to be an even better year. Agents, bargaining through the joint Teamsters/CWA Association Negotiating Committee, are looking for relief from the significant sacrifices they made during the company’s bankruptcy in wages and benefits, and are concerned about keeping good jobs.

Over the past few years, CWA worked with US Airways to return 700 reservations jobs that had been offshored to the U.S.; those jobs now are in Winston-Salem, N.C., Reno, Nev., and Phoenix.

Ryan International and Pinnacle Airlines

In bankruptcy court, the deck is stacked against frontline workers. But AFA-CWA was able to reach a first contract at Ryan International. The agreement covering 200 flight attendants provides job security and protections. Because of their union, Ryan flight attendants were able to decide what was important to them, and not allow management to impose terms and conditions on them.

Flight attendants at Pinnacle Airlines ratified a new contract covering 1,500, again at a company that had just entered bankruptcy. Mobilization was the key to winning a union and building support from flight attendants from the three different carriers – Pinnacle, Colgan and Mesaba – that merged to form Pinnacle. The six-year contract preserves wages, protects affordable health care and provides job security.

And flight attendants are holding Pinnacle management accountable, by requiring that top executives make their own sacrifices to ensure a successful future for the airline.

Spirit Airlines

Spirit flight attendants have been working without a contract after five years of negotiations. Now, as workers prepare for a potential strike, CWA has requested arbitration from the NMB to broker an agreement.

Through pickets and actions, flight attendants are sending a loud and clear message: A low cost airline doesn’t mean workers must subsidize company profits with skyrocketing health care costs, low wages and erratic schedules.

Piedmont Airlines

Fleet and passenger service agents at Piedmont Airlines overwhelmingly ratified their first contract covering 3,700 agents at 79 stations this year. Long and tough negotiations, with NMB involvement, finally produced an agreement that includes real improvements in pay, job security and health care benefits, as well as an effective grievance and arbitration process.

Meanwhile, flight attendants authorized a strike by a 98 percent vote, protesting management’s unsubstantiated demands for cuts.

Flight Attendants Gain OSHA Protections in the Cabin

AFA-CWA has achieved Occupational Safety and Health Administration protections for flight attendants in commercial aircraft, after tireless advocacy to improve safety and health standards in its members' workplace.

“AFA-CWA Flight Attendants have been forceful advocates for OSHA protections, and appreciate the efforts of the Federal Aviation Administration and OSHA to ensure safety and health standards for those working inside our nation's aircraft cabins — a change that will also benefit the millions of passengers who travel on commercial flights,” said AFA-CWA International President Veda Shook.

The new FAA policy announcement comes after AFA-CWA pressed Congress to include flight attendant OSHA protections as part of the FAA reauthorization bill that was signed by President Obama in February 2012.