No Agreement Reached After 31 Months Of Negotiations

Leadership of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) at Compass Airlines have called for a strike vote, following 31 months of negotiations that have failed to reach an agreement. Contract talks began in March 2010 and negotiations have been in mediation since October 2011, under the jurisdiction of the National Mediation Board (NMB).

“Compass flight attendants are determined to reach an agreement that provides fair wages, working conditions and benefits. It is time flight attendants have a contract that recognizes our work as first responders. Compass flight attendants will not settle for a substandard contract – we need a living wage,” said Catriona Bagley, AFA President at Compass. “We are committed to making the company a top-of-the-industry performer, but management continues to stall progress for our airline. Compass management has repeatedly declined, delayed, or cancelled available dates for negotiations. Management chose a path that led to this strike authorization vote. If management continues to choose obstruction over cooperation, then they should be prepared for CHAOS.”

Under the Railway Labor Act, airline negotiations must continue unless the NMB declares an impasse. Arbitration may be offered, but if declined by the parties, a 30-day cooling off period is announced after which the flight attendants may strike. CHAOS, or Create Havoc Around Our System, is AFA’s trademarked strike strategy that can disrupt airline travel via intermittent work stoppages, without notice.

Compass, a Delta Connection carrier, provides approximately 190 daily flights to over 50 Delta Air Lines destinations. Compass Airlines is wholly owned by Trans States Holdings of St. Louis and is headquartered in Minneapolis.

www.afacwa.org