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Push Continues for Airline Workers’ Jobless Benefits, Safety
CWA won a big victory in its drive to gain federal protections for airline passenger service agents who are increasingly threatened by passengers and “airport rage” as they carry out their security duties.
At the same time, CWA is keeping the pressure on Congress to provide emergency relief for airline workers who have been left jobless in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Passenger service agents, who are required by the Federal Aviation Administration to carry out critical security responsibilities, are the only airline employees who lack the backing of federal law in performing such duties.
The Senate, in the aviation security bill passed Oct. 10, agreed with CWA that interference and assaults on agents are unacceptable. The Senate unanimously voted to set penalties of fines and imprisonment of up to 10 years for passengers who assault, intimidate or interfere with employees charged with security duties.
“Airport rage is the weak link in our air travel security and passenger safety system and is a widespread and serious danger to the traveling public,” CWA President Morton Bahr said. He thanked the Senate for its prompt action and especially acknowledged the active support of Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), “who made this happen.” The CWA-sponsored measure parallels existing laws that make the intimidation of flight crews a federal offense.
A CWA survey this year of airline employees produced responses from more than 2,000 agents who said instances of physical assault and intimidation were widespread.
Agents cited numerous cases of serious physical assault in which workers were punched, grabbed by the hair or uniform, or hit with suitcases by passengers. Agents reported little or no support from management. Examples of airport rage security breaches included assaults by passengers trying to gain access to the jetway and passengers boarding the plane without clearance.
Agents are responsible for critical security measures, yet these procedures are the only aspect of the FAA security system not currently enforceable by federal law, CWA pointed out. The procedures include: physically guarding all bag belt and bag room access; physically guarding access to the secure jetway and ramp areas; screening persons for bag checks and matches; determining whether individuals will be disruptive aboard the flight; and notifying ramp and airline personnel when someone who has checked bags fails to board the plane.
The survey results are available in a new CWA report, “Securing Airport Operations: The Critical Need to Confront Airport Rage and Improve Security.”
Meanwhile, CWA wants Congress to prove that the well-being of airline workers is as important as the bailout awarded the industry.
“Congress responded quickly with a $15 billion bailout of the airline industry, but workers who need help now are being told by a minority of lawmakers to wait on some vague promise of relief that might come next month, or next year,” Bahr said.
Stalling tactics by Senate Republicans derailed an assistance measure that had been included in the aviation security bill.
While a majority of senators — 50 Democrats, five Republicans and one Independent — supported the aid package, 44 Republicans refused to stop the debate and vote on the entire bill. Republicans refused to consider even a scaled back bill that would have provided $1.9 billion for unemployment compensation, assistance with health care costs, job training opportunities and other aid to displaced airline workers.
“Airline workers have been completely left out of the bailout given to the industry,” Bahr said, adding that CWA will continue to work with the majority of lawmakers who are committed to fighting for airline workers and their families.
About 2,300 US Airways agents are receiving furlough notices, as the airline cuts back flight operations and closes three reservations centers in San Diego, (announced before Sept. 11), Syracuse, N.Y., and Dayton, Ohio.
Under their CWA contract, agents can relocate to job openings at other facilities, with US Airways covering their moving expenses. CWA also negotiated a voluntary option that reduced the number of agents subject to furlough.
At the same time, CWA is keeping the pressure on Congress to provide emergency relief for airline workers who have been left jobless in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Passenger service agents, who are required by the Federal Aviation Administration to carry out critical security responsibilities, are the only airline employees who lack the backing of federal law in performing such duties.
The Senate, in the aviation security bill passed Oct. 10, agreed with CWA that interference and assaults on agents are unacceptable. The Senate unanimously voted to set penalties of fines and imprisonment of up to 10 years for passengers who assault, intimidate or interfere with employees charged with security duties.
“Airport rage is the weak link in our air travel security and passenger safety system and is a widespread and serious danger to the traveling public,” CWA President Morton Bahr said. He thanked the Senate for its prompt action and especially acknowledged the active support of Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), “who made this happen.” The CWA-sponsored measure parallels existing laws that make the intimidation of flight crews a federal offense.
A CWA survey this year of airline employees produced responses from more than 2,000 agents who said instances of physical assault and intimidation were widespread.
Agents cited numerous cases of serious physical assault in which workers were punched, grabbed by the hair or uniform, or hit with suitcases by passengers. Agents reported little or no support from management. Examples of airport rage security breaches included assaults by passengers trying to gain access to the jetway and passengers boarding the plane without clearance.
Agents are responsible for critical security measures, yet these procedures are the only aspect of the FAA security system not currently enforceable by federal law, CWA pointed out. The procedures include: physically guarding all bag belt and bag room access; physically guarding access to the secure jetway and ramp areas; screening persons for bag checks and matches; determining whether individuals will be disruptive aboard the flight; and notifying ramp and airline personnel when someone who has checked bags fails to board the plane.
The survey results are available in a new CWA report, “Securing Airport Operations: The Critical Need to Confront Airport Rage and Improve Security.”
Meanwhile, CWA wants Congress to prove that the well-being of airline workers is as important as the bailout awarded the industry.
“Congress responded quickly with a $15 billion bailout of the airline industry, but workers who need help now are being told by a minority of lawmakers to wait on some vague promise of relief that might come next month, or next year,” Bahr said.
Stalling tactics by Senate Republicans derailed an assistance measure that had been included in the aviation security bill.
While a majority of senators — 50 Democrats, five Republicans and one Independent — supported the aid package, 44 Republicans refused to stop the debate and vote on the entire bill. Republicans refused to consider even a scaled back bill that would have provided $1.9 billion for unemployment compensation, assistance with health care costs, job training opportunities and other aid to displaced airline workers.
“Airline workers have been completely left out of the bailout given to the industry,” Bahr said, adding that CWA will continue to work with the majority of lawmakers who are committed to fighting for airline workers and their families.
About 2,300 US Airways agents are receiving furlough notices, as the airline cuts back flight operations and closes three reservations centers in San Diego, (announced before Sept. 11), Syracuse, N.Y., and Dayton, Ohio.
Under their CWA contract, agents can relocate to job openings at other facilities, with US Airways covering their moving expenses. CWA also negotiated a voluntary option that reduced the number of agents subject to furlough.