AFA-CWA Takes on Management at United, US Airways

AFA-CWA flight attendants picketed the UAL Corp. – United Airlines – annual meeting in Chicago May 10 to protest the excessive $40 million compensation package paid to CEO Glenn Tilton.

Flight attendants and other airline workers are picketing to alert shareholders that the "shared sacrifice" that management talked about throughout the airline's bankruptcy remains a sacrifice for workers who are not sharing in post-bankruptcy "rewards."

"Executives must follow through on their promise of shared rewards. No one does better unless everyone – employees, passengers and shareholders – does better," said AFA-CWA United spokesperson Sara Nelson.

Many United executives now are receiving equity incentive payments while airline workers have seen their pay and retirement security slashed. United emerged from bankruptcy protection in February 2006.

Flight attendants, pilots and other airline workers also picketed outside the International Aviation Symposium in Phoenix, Ariz., this week to focus attention on their frustration with Phoenix-based US Airways.

AFA-CWA members at US Airways and America West are angry over the lack of progress in contract negotiations for a merged agreement. "The failure of US Airways management to recognize the value and worth of flight attendants on the job and at the bargaining table is an 'age-old strategy for disaster,'" said Gary Richardson, president of AFA-CWA's Master Executive Council for America West.

Mike Flores, president of AFA-CWA's Master Executive Council for US Airways, reminded management that "there is no such thing as a 'full-service, low-cost airline."That only works if you find employees willing to work for nothing and customers willing to pay for nothing," and isn't happening.