In The News: Flight Attendant Among Workers at Debate

AFA-CWA's Janette Rook (pictured left, in blue) was standing in line in front of the stage Aug. 7 in withering Chicago heat at Soldier Field eager to ask her question when the clock ran out on the AFL-CIO's Democratic Presidential Forum.

But that didn't make her any less thrilled to be there. "What an incredible opportunity, so fantastic and exciting," Rook, the local council representative for Northwest Airlines members in Detroit, said afterwards.

A Northwest flight attendant for nine years, Rook was one of 25 workers the AFL-CIO selected to be in the front section for the event and one of 10 chosen to ask questions, if time permitted. She planned to ask, "In 2005, Northwest filed for bankruptcy. Our pay and benefits were cut nearly 40 percent and our pensions were frozen. Meanwhile, our top executives received nearly $400 million in bonuses. How will you protect workers like me and stop companies from abusing corporate bankruptcy laws?"

Questions from other workers focused on health care, outsourcing, worker safety and workers' freedom to form unions. All of the candidates wore pins showing their support for the Employee Free Choice Act.