Association of Flight Attendants-CWA

National Mediation Board Announces Dates for Union Election
 
Washington, DC – The National Mediation Board (NMB) today announced the voting schedule for Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet Flight Attendants to determine union representation. Balloting instructions will be sent to the over 2,300 Flight Attendants on November 30 and voting will close December 21, 2011. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (AFA) already represents approximately 1,200 Flight Attendants at Atlantic Southeast Airlines.

“Flight Attendants at the new ExpressJet are ready to take control of their careers at the world’s first super regional airline,” said Veda Shook, AFA International President. “As the world’s largest Flight Attendant union, run by Flight Attendants, AFA has been on the forefront of every important Flight Attendant issue for 66 years, building the Flight Attendant career and promoting our work as first responders.”

“We have an incredible opportunity to take control of our future as we vote for the world’s largest Flight Attendant union,” stated ExpressJet Flight Attendant Annie Bridges. “AFA knows regional airlines and our issues as Flight Attendants. We are safety professionals and every single day AFA is working on Capitol Hill, with regulatory agencies and with airlines throughout the industry to promote the best standards in safety regulations, policies and training. AFA is the only union with a policy in black and white that guarantees protection of our seniority.  At ExpressJet we are scheduled to work alone in the cabin, but once we have AFA as our union - someone who understands what I do will always be there for me.”

“Our profession is unique as are the conditions on the job. The Association of Flight Attendants is our profession’s union and it is the only union with the experience and resources to make the most out of the merger of ASA and ExpressJet,” said Lindsay Gardner, president of AFA at Atlantic Southeast Airlines.  “Together we will negotiate the best of both contracts – raising the pay, working conditions and benefits for all Flight Attendants at the new ExpressJet.  Unified in AFA, we will ensure Flight Attendants are full partners in the benefits of our new super regional airline.”

The representation election is not a vote for one contract or the other. Both contracts remain in effect after the election. When it comes time to negotiate a single contract for the combined Flight Attendant group, the best contract provisions from each contract will provide the floor for negotiations. AFA negotiates based on the priorities set by Flight Attendants through surveys, meetings and direct member feedback to elected Flight Attendant leaders.

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 24 airlines come together to form AFA, part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. More election information at www.yourafa.org.