AFA-CWA Files for Election at Compass Airlines

With support from an overwhelming majority of the employees, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA filed for a representation election at Compass Airlines, a new regional airline owned by Northwest Airlines.

"It is unfortunate that Compass management refused to recognize the intention of 90 percent of their flight attendants" by refusing to grant consent recognition, said AFA-CWA President Pat Friend.  "In spite of the fact that management would rather go through the long and drawn out process of a formal election, we look forward to having our new colleagues from Compass join with tens of thousands of flight attendants" currently represented by the union.

The rapidly growing airline expects to have 300 employees on the payroll by the end of the year.  It began daily flights in May between Minneapolis and Dulles Airport near Washington, and soon will be serving hubs in Detroit and Memphis.

An election will be scheduled by the National Mediation Board, which oversees labor relations in the airline industry, once the agency verifies majority support in the unit.