Amer Eagle Flight Attendants Protest Stonewalling

American Eagle flight attendants walked an informational picket line at airports across the country today May 28 to mark three years of the airline's refusal to bargain a fair contract.

"American Eagle management is pushing our flight attendants to the breaking point, while they continue to stall at the negotiating table," said Bill Hennessey, president of the AFA-CWA American Eagle Master Executive Council. "We've had enough. This contract fight is about more than just money. It's about our quality of life, it's about having a career rather than just a job and it's about Eagle management rewarding our years of hard work and dedication to the success of this airline."

American Eagle has grown since bargaining for a new contract began in May 2001 but the airline refuses to recognize the flight attendants' contribution to its success. AFA-CWA leaders are seeking improvements in pay, benefits and scheduling to bring compensation and work rules in line with other similar carriers.

For example, Eagle flight attendants are frequently scheduled to work up to 16 hours and can be scheduled for 10 flights a day without any guaranteed breaks. Because many Eagle planes have 50 or fewer seats, that means there is only one flight attendant per plane.

The majority of American Eagle flight attendants make less than $20,000 a year, and pay tops out at $27.68 per flight hour after 12 years of service. Their contract doesn't offer holiday pay, premium pay, or holding time compensation.

The flight attendants picketed and leafleted at Eagle hub airports in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Miami and San Juan.