Association of Flight Attendants-CWA

Senator Calls Out Those Intent on Shutting Down FAA over Unrelated, Union-Busting Provision

Washington, DC – The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) International President Veda Shook today issued the following statement commending Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) for his impassioned floor remarks about the consequences of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shutdown and his resolve to pass a “clean” FAA extension that protects democracy for aviation workers:

“We praise Senator Rockefeller for lifting the curtain on the ideologically-motivated anti-union agenda that has shut down the FAA and left tens of thousands without a job. The Senators determination to ensure that aviation workers have access to democratic, fair elections is a powerful example of his strong leadership.

“Legislators have tried to camouflage the anti-union drive behind the FAA partial shutdown with a manufactured case against rural airport subsidies, but the bottom line is Delta Air Lines has hand picked legislators to lead a crusade against workers’ right to join a union and bargain a contract.

“The House Republican Leadership has been carrying the water for Delta in this single-minded attack on democratic elections for workers that is holding up FAA reauthorization and costing our nation $200 million a day, 100,000 jobs and grinding to a halt all future airport projects that support our communities and the future of our aviation industry.

“We stand behind Senator Rockefeller and reiterate his call for ‘clean’ FAA legislation that will put those affected by the shutdown back to work. It is time to put an end to the political games and to get back to protecting and advancing the world’s greatest aviation system.”

Access Senator Rockefeller floor remarks about the FAA shutdown>>

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.