AFA Sues To Compel Delta Connection Carrier to Arbitrate Its Violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act
Washington, DC (January 22, 2015) – The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) filed suit today to compel Compass Airlines to arbitrate two contractual grievances over the Company’s violations of its Flight Attendants’ rights under the FMLA. Compass has refused for over a year to schedule these grievances.
Compass Airlines is owned by Trans States Holding of St. Louis, MO, and is operated as a Delta connection carrier.
“Compass Airlines is getting a rap for bad labor relations, as they are overtly refusing to arbitrate,” said Catriona Bagley, MEC President at Compass Airlines. “In our contract, Compass agreed to arbitrate grievances for the purpose of deciding disputes. Now, management is skirting their obligation to process grievances.”
AFA is asking the federal court to order Compass to honor the contract and to comply with its legal duty under the Railway Labor Act to arbitrate these grievances.
“Compass’ action of failing to process these grievances through the appropriate legal and contractual channels is appalling,” said Bagley. “Everyone is entitled to due process.”
# # #
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 67 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.
