FAs Disagree With Union Rules Changes In FAA Reauthorization Bill

Flight Attendants from over 20 airlines, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), and concerned citizens from across the country held an OccuFLY protest at Los Angeles International Airport on Monday, February 6. Flight Attendants and supporters protested what they said is the latest attack on collective bargaining rights included in the FAA reauthorization bill.

"The FAA reauthorization should be focused on addressing the pressing safety issues that will ensure that the U.S. aviation system remains the safest in the world. Instead, Congress has used this process to gratuitously attack American workers in order to satisfy corporate executives. This controversial labor provision is nothing less than an attack by the 1% against the 99%. We saw it in Wisconsin and Ohio, now we see it for airline and rail workers who are simply seeking the benefits of collective bargaining or fighting to hang on to collective bargaining rights," said Veda Shook, AFA International President.

Through what the union says is a "secret deal," House Republicans and Senate leadership have proposed drastic changes to the Railway Labor Act (RLA). The RLA, one of the nations first labor laws, was crafted cooperatively by labor and management and has not been changed in nearly eight decades without the agreement of both employer and employee representatives. By requiring the support of at least 50 percent of an employee group before a union representation election could be held, where currently there is no statutory requirement, the union says Congress is trying to undermine a workers choice to have union representation. They say the move "will virtually ensure that employers will tie up union elections through endless litigation. Through industry consolidation current contracts could be jettisoned and union representation cancelled."

FMI: www.afanet.org