Warns The Deal Is Going Nowhere Without A New Contract, Job
Security
Leaders of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO
(AFA-CWA), which represents 16,000 flight attendants at United
Airlines, said again last week that any merger scenario will go
nowhere without a new contract and job security for flight
attendants.
"Management needs to get busy with contract negotiations for the
improvements flight attendants are due before executing against any
consolidation plans," Greg Davidowitch, AFA-CWA President at
United, said in a statement. "Our union will also forcefully oppose
any merger that will cause flight attendant job loss. And, any
merger will fail without the support of flight attendants.
Davidowitch said management needs to pay attention to what he
says are the extraordinary hurdles associated with any merger
transaction. "They cannot move forward without various approvals by
the government, other constituencies and agreement with labor.
Integration of inflight operations could take years to complete and
it will not occur at all unless we can support the deal with the
protection of our jobs and improvement of our careers upfront," he
said.
"Over the next few weeks we expect the escalation of forces
pressing for consolidation will culminate either in an announcement
of a potential business transaction or in the conclusion of the
reported talks underway," he continued. "Airline executives and
industry analysts who have touted the merits of mergers have two
recent examples from which to study certain successes and failures.
Executives would do well to study what worked and what did not
within America West's 2005 announced and yet-to be-completed merger
with US Airways and Delta's merger with Northwest announced in
April of 2008."
Davidowitch said the union has no intention of taking a back
seat in any consolidation scenario. Prior to any potential
announcement, he said they will continue to make clear how
management can work for United Airlines' successful future. "We
remain prepared to protect flight attendant interests and the
continued AFA-CWA representation of all our Members. In the event
any proposed merger agreement adversely impacts AFA Members we will
act vigorously to protect our Members, even if that means any
proposed merger ultimately fails," he said.
In the event of an actual merger announcement, Davidowich said
the union will convene a Special Meeting of the AFA-CWA United
Master Executive Council to review specific deal terms to assess
any opportunities or adverse impact on our community.
The bottom line, Davidowich said, is that the flight attendants
union will not support any merger unless and until our interests
are addressed. "Consolidation involving United Airlines won't be
consummated without the involvement of United's Flight Attendants,"
he said.