October 6, 2020 — We are encouraged by continuing talks between Speaker Pelosi and Secretary Mnuchin on an overall COVID relief bill. Additionally, the Speaker's commitment to aviation workers is strong.
Over 100,000 aviation workers woke up without work on October 1, 2020: 45,000 were furloughed and tens of thousands more went on ‘unpaid leave’ when the Payroll Support Program expired. There is no longer a backstop for aviation job loss; there will likely be more. The October 1 furloughs were not a notice. People woke up Thursday morning without jobs, without paychecks, and without healthcare. They are filing for unemployment as we speak — but we have a chance to reverse course if Congress acts quickly.
WATCH: AFA President Sara Nelson's Latest PSP Update >
Read more on our call for urgent relief >
Flight Attendants and other essential aviation workers have spent months calling on Congress to reach a deal for a comprehensive relief package to help all workers, including an extension of the PSP. But when Congress failed to act before the Sept. 30 deadline, furloughs began immediately for Flight Attendants and other aviation workers.
Congress must pass a PSP extension through March, 2021, to support essential aviation workers, prevent mass furloughs and protect our broader economy!
Call Congress: Extend PSP
SENATE: 888-848-4824
HOUSE: 888-907-9365
"Hello, I am a constituent calling to tell my (Senator/Representative) that aviation workers are out of time. Furloughs have begun and we only have short time to reverse course. We need relief and an extension of the Payroll Support Program TODAY. Without an extension of this successful jobs program, there is no backstop for layoffs. This is just the start. Inaction is not an option. We are out of time #ExtendPSP now. Thank you.”
Write Congress
Send a letter to your Representative and two Senators >
Tweet Your Representative and Senators (add pictures of you in uniform to each!):
We've made it easy to Tweet at your lawmakers. Click here to get started. Or, you can copy and paste the following Tweets into your Twitter.
- Massive layoffs have begun for Flight Attendants & aviation workers. We only have a short time to reverse course. Extend the Payroll Support Program TODAY, [tag your Senators/Representative]! Pass #ReliefNow to save my job & healthcare! #ExtendPSP
- I’m one of thousands of furloughed Flight Attendants who needs [tag your Senators/Representative] to act to extend the Payroll Support Program TODAY. We need #ReliefNow! #ExtendPSP
- Tell your personal story using the hashtags #ReliefNow and #ExtendPSP
If you do not know your Senators or Representatives' Twitter handles you can find them here! Don't have Twitter, set up an account today to take action. Here's how >
Relief Now Events
Flight Attendants have rallied across the country in Washington, D.C., Newark, Chicago, Toledo, Philadelphia, Allentown, Atlanta, Seattle, Charlotte, Salt Lake, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Denver, Orlando, Cleveland, Detroit, Minneapolis, Los Angeles to demand that Congress extend our Payroll Support Program and pass #ReliefNow. Other events are being planned now and up next is:
