Association of Flight Attendants-CWA

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), representing Flight Attendants from nine regional airlines among its nearly 20 airlines, is launching a coordinated campaign to lift pay and benefits for all Flight Attendants hosting passengers on flights operating under the three major airline brands. Flight Attendants will span the B and C terminals at Washington National Airport tomorrow to march in solidarity for fair and equitable pay across all U.S. airlines.

“The airline industry is raking in billions, at the expense of workers on the frontlines of regional airlines,” said AFA International President Sara Nelson. “The three major U.S. carriers are pocketing a portion of their profit by promoting wage inequality. It’s the same brand, the same passengers buying tickets but the pay for aviation’s first responders is a fraction of that for crew on mainline flights. Flight Attendants know undercutting pay for any Flight Attendant puts in jeopardy the standards for all Flight Attendants.”

Tomorrow’s demonstration by Flight Attendants from regional airlines and mainline Flight Attendant supporters, begins a campaign that aims to bridge the gap in pay between mainline and regional airline cabin crew. The protest will follow a Regional Flight Attendant Coalition meeting with AFA and the International Association of Machinists (IAM), adding Flight Attendants from two more regional airlines to the coordinated campaign. This is just the first of many protests planned across the country.

“The U.S. airline industry is crucial to the success of our economy, as are the Flight Attendants who are on the frontlines and serve an important role in keeping passengers safe,” said Nelson. “It’s time to close the pay gap and end wage discrimination.”

# # #

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 68 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, working conditions and safety in the aircraft cabin. 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.