Association of Flight Attendants-CWA

Washington, DC – Flight Attendants at American Eagle, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), filed a motion yesterday with the Southern District Bankruptcy Court of New York objecting to the recent announcement that AMR Corporation will begin outsourcing American Airlines regional flying to a non-AMR-owned carrier.

“AMR has no business outsourcing. American Eagle Flight Attendants were part of a profitable operation, yet we were forced to give up millions on this sham of a bankruptcy. At every turn we have made this airline a success and for that they are taking our jobs? We are pushing back. AMR management will have to answer to the court. We are prepared to fight for our jobs,” said AFA American Eagle President Robert Barrow. “Compelled by the onerous bankruptcy laws, we made cuts and sacrifices with the assurance that if we achieved cost savings, our fleet would grow. This management has lost all credibility.”

AFA’s motion questions the proposed agreement citing AMR’s lack of consideration of the impact on American Eagle operations, and argues that the proposed agreement is inappropriate prior to a final merger decision.

“American Eagle Flight Attendants and other workers have been repeatedly told that it was necessary for all employees to share equally in the sacrifice. After giving up so much to make our airline viable, this unscrupulous management is now planning to outsource regional flying. We lived up to our end of the agreement. Now management must be made to live up to theirs,” added Barrow.

The proposed acquisition of 53 new 76-seat jets by Republic Airlines represents about 20 percent of the current American Eagle fleet. Such a deal could represent a material threat to the job security and compensation of AFA members at Eagle.

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.