Association of Flight Attendants-CWA

FAA Provides Safety Alert for Fume Events

We are pleased to report that on March 26, 2018, the FAA published a “Safety Alert for Operators” (SAFO) No. 18003, that advises airlines to enhance their operational procedures to minimize onboard exposure to smoke and fumes. Importantly, it explicitly references the need for airlines to assess “policies and procedures regarding odor, smoke, and/or fumes recognition, differentiation, and mitigation.” A key source of such onboard fumes is the cabin air supply system when engine oil and hydraulic fluid contaminate the ventilation air. Many of our union members have documented serious symptoms after breathing those types of fumes.

See also: FAA Safety Alert for Operators (.pdf)

AFA Notifies American Airlines Group, Twin Hill of Intent to Sue over Uniforms

March 23, 2018 — Flight Attendants at Envoy, PSA, and Piedmont, along with mainline American Flight Attendants, have suffered for over a year due to toxic uniforms. AFA members have reported symptoms associated with wearing the new uniforms including rash/irritated skin, eye irritation, breathing problems, and headaches. These symptoms mirror the types of symptoms reported by our sisters and brothers who are wearing these uniforms at mainline American. AFA has repeatedly encouraged American to remove the toxic uniforms from the property with a temporary replacement. While the airline has chosen a new future vendor, it will be years before the new uniform fully replaces the toxic uniforms.

Update on FAA Reauthorization and Our Fight for 10

March 23, 2018 — Thanks to your advocacy, we are well positioned and closer than ever to achieving our Fight for 10!

Celebrating International Women's Day 2018 

March 8, 2018 — Our union was founded by brave women to fight against discrimination on the job including age, weight, race, marital status, having children, for men to have the same rights as women. As we celebrate International Women's Day, we are also fighting against sexual harassment and sexual assault on the job in order to ensure full equality and respect for our role as aviation's first responders. 

CWA Sisters and Brothers on Strike at Frontier Communications

March 8, 2018 — We are on strike at Frontier Communications! Our CWA Sisters and Brothers at Frontier Communications, 1400 strong, in West Virginia and in Ashburn, VA, are fighting for a fair contract and to keep good jobs right here where we live. We stand with them and call on AFA members to find a picket line to walk in support.

AFA Calls on FAA to Respond to Opioid Overdoses Onboard

February 23, 2018

The Honorable Daniel K. Elwell Acting Administrator
Federal Aviation Administration
800 Independence Avenue SW, Room 1010 Washington, DC 20591

Dear Administrator Elwell:

Opioid overdose deaths continue to increase in the United States, with six out of ten drug overdose deaths now involving an opioid. Passenger medical emergencies have and will continue to include opioid overdoses. Unfortunately, passengers may die from opioid overdoses on airplanes from the sheer lack of access to naloxone. Therefore, we urge the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to utilize its existing authority immediately to issue regulations requiring that the Emergency Medical Kits (EMK) carried by passenger airlines include naloxone nasal spray to treat opioid overdoses.

AFA Supports West Virginia Teachers

March 4, 2018

Christine Campbell, President AFT-West Virginia
Dale Lee, President WV Education Association
Linda Thompson, President WV School Service Personnel Association

Dear Sisters and Brother:

The 50,000 members of the Association of Flight Attendants – CWA, AFL-CIO, stand in solidarity with you as you fight for a fair contract. Your strike is our strike! In response to a communication to our members on your struggle, one Flight Attendant said, “they are bravely supporting the pay and working conditions of workers across America!”