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.

FMI: www.unitedafa.org