Flight Attendant Union Honored For Fight Against Sex Discrimination In The Workplace
Washington, DC – For over fifty years, the world’s largest Flight Attendant union, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), has been on the frontlines of advocating for civil rights, beginning with the fight for gender equality. Today, the role Flight Attendants played in shaping American history was honored at the event ‘The Civil Rights Act of 1964 @ 50: The Pioneering Role of Flight Attendants in Fighting Sex Discrimination’.
In the forefront of demanding equal rights, Flight Attendants used Title VII of the act to challenge discriminatory policies based on gender, race, age, weight, pregnancy and marital status. Over the next decade, AFA defeated airline rules requiring mandatory resignation at ages 30-35, prohibiting employment of married and pregnant Flight Attendants, and demanding equal pay.
“AFA has a long and proud history of beating back discrimination. Through persistent efforts, AFA has worked to ensure that women receive equal pay, domestic partners receive equal benefits, weight restrictions were removed, men could serve as Flight Attendants, and all Flight Attendants have the right to marry and have children. Our union fought for decades and overcame discriminatory policies one by one and we are honored that this dedicated work is being recognized today. We are especially grateful to AFA International President Emeritus Patricia Friend for sharing her experience at this remarkable event,” said Sara Nelson, AFA International President.
Sponsored by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law’s Institute for Law and the Workplace, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee of the ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law, the critical role of Flight Attendants in the fight against sex discrimination in the workplace is part of the ongoing celebration of the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The Association of Flight Attendants is the world’s largest Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for 69 years. Serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill, AFA has transformed the Flight Attendant profession by raising wages, benefits and working conditions. Nearly 60,000 Flight Attendants come together to form AFA, part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.
