Says Airline Is In Violation Of The Railway Labor Act For 'Unilaterally' Changing Terms Of Employment

United Airlines flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), say the are "outraged" at an attempt by United management to side-step United AFA representatives. Greg Davidowitch, AFA President at United, issued a statement Wednesday denouncing management's tactics as seeking to destroy jobs and to destroy the bargaining rights of the United flight attendants.

United flight attendants learned Tuesday that management intends to do what it describes as an end-run around the legal representatives for United flight attendants as we take all legal steps to prevent an involuntary furlough. Running from the pressure brought by the United AFA leadership, and the demands of their employees, management has moved from their position that the only option was an involuntary furlough at the United subsidiary. Having first refused to agree to numerous proposals offered by the AFA at United, management chose instead to undermine the collective bargaining process and, as described in a letter to employees, management stated, "we've decided to act on our own."

The union says unilaterally changing the terms of employment, and bypassing the representatives of the duly certified exclusive union representative are violations of the Railway Labor Act. "Management doesn't need this furlough. They want it. Yesterday United Airlines SVP, Sam Risoli deliberately circumvented United AFA leadership to achieve an agenda that has nothing to do with managing staffing concerns," said Greg Davidowitch. "Management is trying to force United flight attendants to give up their contract and their seniority to take jobs on the Continental side of the operation. Even as a valid, negotiated choice for flight attendants, this would not even provide job options to cover management's desired furlough numbers. Management has refused to agree to the reasonable proposals presented by United AFA negotiators for mitigating the declared furlough altogether."

"United flight attendants don't want to be furloughed and forced into a position of an ultimatum of having to seek employment at Continental, and they certainly don't want to be told what their priorities are," said Greg Davidowitch. "United flight attendants are the backbone of United and have sacrificed time and again for the success of our airline. We cannot do it alone."

"United flight attendants have a long and proud history and are prepared to aggressively defend our contract and our jobs. Management tactics with the intent of harming United flight attendants are not the path to unity and success. We will hold management accountable for their actions if they involuntarily furlough even a single flight attendant. We do not want to fight, but we will never back down in defense of our members. Never. And that is the real reason for management's attack on these dedicated flight attendants and all of our flying partners who care deeply about them."

FMI: www.unitedafa.org