Flight Attendants at New ExpressJet Are Ready To Unify In The Association of Flight Attendants
National Mediation Board Today Mails Voting Instructions to Nearly 2,300 Flight Attendants
Washington, DC – Today, the voting process begins for nearly 2,300 Atlantic Southeast Airlines and ExpressJet Flight Attendants in an election to determine union representation. Voting instructions were mailed by the National Mediation Board (NMB) today and Flight Attendants at the new ExpressJet are excited to unify in the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) in just three weeks when the voting results are announced on December 21, 2011. AFA already represents approximately 1,200 Flight Attendants at Atlantic Southeast Airlines.
“Today is an exciting day for Flight Attendants at the new ExpressJet and throughout our Flight Attendant union,” said Veda Shook, AFA International President. “Flight Attendants are extraordinary people and our work is unique. The largest Flight Attendant union, run by and for Flight Attendants, AFA promotes our role as first responders, negotiates industry-leading contracts, lobbies Congress and policy makers for safe, secure and healthy air travel and creates a network of Flight Attendants helping Flight Attendants throughout the world. We have the experience and resources to negotiate the best contract at the new ExpressJet. Flight Attendants will have peace of mind with our guaranteed seniority protection policy. With AFA, they have a union working 24/7 on supporting our work life and home life as Flight Attendants.”
“AFA sought this election to unite Flight Attendants as quickly as possible to take advantage of the opportunities created by the merger and is uniquely positioned to advance the priorities of Flight Attendants. Built by Flight Attendants and run by Flight Attendants, our union has programs that improve every area of our work lives. Unified in AFA, we will ensure Flight Attendants are full partners in the benefits of our new super regional airline,” said Lindsay Gardner, president of AFA at Atlantic Southeast Airlines.
The representation election is not a vote for a contract. Both contracts remain in place 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.
“AFA is 100 percent focused on Flight Attendants. As a super regional carrier, Flight Attendants at the new ExpressJet will benefit tremendously from AFA’s great experience over nearly seven decades. We need a union that understands how to negotiate for our unique careers. AFA is the union that consistently negotiates higher pay for Flight Attendants with protections that pay us for all of our time on the job and away from home. We are ready to be unified at the new ExpressJet with the focus on our careers that only comes with the world’s largest Flight Attendant union,” said Roy Rodriguez, ExpressJet Flight Attendant. “Together we’re better.”
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.
