Search News
For the Media
For media inquiries, call CWA Communications at 202-434-1168 or email comms@cwa-union.org. To read about CWA Members, Leadership or Industries, visit our About page.
AFA-CWA, Lawmakers Decry Attempts to Outsource
Calling it a threat to air safety and American jobs, members of Congress are joining the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA in denouncing a scheme by Northwest Airlines to outsource its cabin crews on international flights.
The airline, which is already contracting out mechanical work to other countries, plans to hire 2,600 foreign-born flight attendants. AFA-CWA, which has members at 21 airlines and is working to organize the 9,600 flight attendants at Northwest, is concerned that other airlines will follow Northwest's lead.
"We must not compromise our safety and security just so that companies can sell our jobs to the lowest bidder," said Dianne Tamuk, president of AFA-CWA Council 5 at United Airlines. She added that economic studies show one airline job supports another 18 jobs in any given community, meaning outsourcing could have a devastating ripple effect.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) spoke along with Tamuk at a Nov. 17 news conference on Capitol Hill, where about 50 flight attendants gathered to meet with lawmakers. Maloney wrote a letter, signed by 86 other representatives, to Northwest CEO Doug Steenland urging him to "reconsider outsourcing these U.S.-based, safety-critical flight attendant jobs to non-U.S. citizens."
"We are trying to keep this outsourcing scheme from taking off," Maloney said. "Northwest's plan will cost thousands of American jobs and it could compromise American security. If Northwest outsources, other air carriers will surely follow, and the costs will be multiplied."
Maloney also raised concerns about whether "foreign-based flight attendants would be subject to adequate background screening." AFA-CWA says flight attendants are subject to extensive 10-year criminal background checks, fingerprinting, FAA certification and random drug and alcohol testing.
"At a time when flight attendants have suffered layoffs and benefit reductions as a result of the airline industry's financial problems since September 11, Northwest should not pull the rug out from under these hardworking men and women with an ill-advised outsourcing plan," Rep. Hilda Solis (D-Calif.) said. "The qualifications and experience of flight attendants are vital to our national security. We should support them, not outsource their jobs for small savings."
The airline, which is already contracting out mechanical work to other countries, plans to hire 2,600 foreign-born flight attendants. AFA-CWA, which has members at 21 airlines and is working to organize the 9,600 flight attendants at Northwest, is concerned that other airlines will follow Northwest's lead.
"We must not compromise our safety and security just so that companies can sell our jobs to the lowest bidder," said Dianne Tamuk, president of AFA-CWA Council 5 at United Airlines. She added that economic studies show one airline job supports another 18 jobs in any given community, meaning outsourcing could have a devastating ripple effect.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) spoke along with Tamuk at a Nov. 17 news conference on Capitol Hill, where about 50 flight attendants gathered to meet with lawmakers. Maloney wrote a letter, signed by 86 other representatives, to Northwest CEO Doug Steenland urging him to "reconsider outsourcing these U.S.-based, safety-critical flight attendant jobs to non-U.S. citizens."
"We are trying to keep this outsourcing scheme from taking off," Maloney said. "Northwest's plan will cost thousands of American jobs and it could compromise American security. If Northwest outsources, other air carriers will surely follow, and the costs will be multiplied."
Maloney also raised concerns about whether "foreign-based flight attendants would be subject to adequate background screening." AFA-CWA says flight attendants are subject to extensive 10-year criminal background checks, fingerprinting, FAA certification and random drug and alcohol testing.
"At a time when flight attendants have suffered layoffs and benefit reductions as a result of the airline industry's financial problems since September 11, Northwest should not pull the rug out from under these hardworking men and women with an ill-advised outsourcing plan," Rep. Hilda Solis (D-Calif.) said. "The qualifications and experience of flight attendants are vital to our national security. We should support them, not outsource their jobs for small savings."