Hopeful Merger Continues To Provide Opportunities For Frontline Workers

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), representing US Airways flight attendants, issued the following statement from AFA US Airways president Roger Holmin after the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a settlement with US Airways/American Airlines. The resolution of the anti-trust lawsuit will now be submitted to Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane for approval.

"AFA is carefully reviewing the terms of this agreement to ensure that the merger continues to provide a positive future for US Airways flight attendants. Today's settlement is a tribute to the powerful advocacy of flight attendants and other workers who tirelessly encouraged the DOJ to discuss viable options that would allow for the completion of the world's largest airline.

"US Airways flight attendants continue to back the merger as long as it supports the opportunities and benefits we have worked long and hard to achieve.  To that end, AFA has proposed a process for negotiating a Flight Attendant agreement which ensures 24,000 flight attendants at the merged carrier fully share in the benefits of the merger.  AFA also remains committed to working with our counterparts at American Airlines on developing a harmonious integration for flight attendants so as to avoid a representation election.

"Flight attendants at US Airways, through our hard work and sacrifices, helped make this merger possible. When the anti-trust lawsuit threatened the opportunity to realize the benefits of the merger, we stood together with other frontline workers and took the case of our colleagues and families directly to lawmakers and Justice. We have demonstrated what we can accomplish by working together and we intend to redouble our efforts to ensure flight attendants achieve the best contract at the world's largest airline."

FMI: www.afanet.org