Bargaining Update

AFA-CWA Leaders at United Take Action Against Management's Stalling Tactics in Bargaining

Leaders of the joint Continental, Continental Micronesia and United Airlines Master Executive Council voted unanimously to begin an intensive strike information and education campaign for some 24,000 Flight Attendants. Specifically, that means information on the right to strike and how AFA-CWA's CHAOS strategy works to bring pressure on company to come to terms on a collective bargaining agreement.

United Airlines Flight Attendants have been mobilizing for months and are frustrated with management's stalling.

The Joint MEC leaders also determined that after AFA-CWA and company negotiators meet in mediated bargaining in February, they will assess the need for a strike vote based on the status of the contract negotiations.

 

CHAOS – Create Havoc Around Our System – is a strategy which could include intermittent strikes, system-wide strikes and other non-traditional work actions. The form CHAOS would take at United, should it prove necessary, will be unique.

One of the most powerful aspects of the CHAOS strategy is AFA-CWA's ability to adapt it to the specific facts of each campaign, to keep airline executives off balance with the element of surprise, and to take advantage of weakness in the company's strategy. This strategy is designed to maximize the pressure on management to reach an agreement while minimizing the risk to Flight Attendants. The threat of CHAOS has been employed successfully by AFA-CWA to induce a labor settlement by effectively calling management's bluff when it's stalling, refusing to reach a meaningful settlement, or engaging in union busting.

AFA-CWA International President Sara Nelson said, "We are standing up for our fair share of the profits we help create. This isn't just about United, it's about setting the new standard for Flight Attendants across the industry."

TNG-CWA Kicks Off Nationwide Campaign to Support Digital First Media Bargaining

The NewsGuild-CWA launched a national, coordinated campaign to win fair contracts for the nearly 1,000 TNG-CWA represented employees of Digital First Media. The campaign will build on the strength of the 13 bargaining units at DFM publications and online news sites nationwide.

Read more here and here.

NY Library Workers Unanimously Ratify First Contract

CWA Local 1120's newest members at the Monroe Free Library in Poughkeepsie, NY, unanimously ratified their first contract that provides wage increases and improvements in benefits and working conditions.

The staff joined the union in September 2014 after the library board attempted to block workers from organizing. They then launched their successful mobilization campaign with support from local elected officials and the community. In a NLRB election, they voted 11-0 for a union voice.

The unit includes workers in reference, circulation and children departments; clerks; and coordinators.

Read more here.

CWA Local 1120 members at Monroe Free Library celebrate their first contract.