Association of Flight Attendants-CWA

American Eagle Flight Attendants Stand in Solidarity Against Management’s Outrageous Demands

Washington, DC – American Eagle Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), are joining workers across the American Airlines system today, February 14 at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to protest over-reaching cuts management is demanding through Chapter 11. The event will be held from 11:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m. CST at the upper level of Terminal D.

“At the heart of the matter is an outrageous attack on workers who have sacrificed nearly a decade to ensure the future of American Airlines.  At the heart of the matter is an executive group reaping rewards off the sacrifices of frontline workers while failing to do their part in putting forward a successful business plan.  At the heart of the matter is American’s $4 billion in the bank amassed through worker sacrifices, while inept executives declare the frontline workers’ pain is not deep enough.  At the heart of the matter is a profitable, reliable American Eagle being drug over the Chapter 11 coals simply because they can.  The heartache is too much and we are standing together to fight back,” said Robert Barrow, AFA American Eagle President.

The AMR Corporation, parent company of American Eagle and American Airlines, filed for bankruptcy protection in November 2011. Since that time, AFA leadership at American Eagle has been fully engaged in responding to the bankruptcy filing and, along with financial and legal advisors, continues to monitor developments closely. AFA is committed to working with the union representing American Airlines Flight Attendants, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, in coordinating efforts to protect Flight Attendant careers.

“Airline bankruptcies have become nothing less than a management tool to over-reach with impunity: job cuts, wage cuts, retirements slashed and outsourced maintenance.  Executives, reaping the rewards of bonuses rubber-stamped by the bankruptcy court, expect workers to pay for their poor performance.  We call it what it is – and we are protesting today to shed a light and demand justice,” said Veda Shook, AFA International President.

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 over 65 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 at 23 airlines 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.