Association of Flight Attendants-CWA

0 Days to #ExtendPSP and Save Our Jobs

September 30, 2020 — Congress has until MIDNIGHT tonight to save our jobs! Inaction is not an option and there is growing support for a full relief bill. Everyone “supports us.” True support for the American worker comes in the form of a relief bill. We need every Flight Attendant, regardless of status, to commit to Take Action ALL DAY today.

TAKE ACTION

Call Congress

Make three calls every day. One to your Representative and two to your Senators.

SENATE: 888-848-4824
HOUSE: 888-907-9365

"Hello, I am a constituent calling to tell my (Senator/Representative) that aviation workers need a relief package before October 1 to stop mass job loss and cuts to small airports that also hurts other Americans who count on air service to get their medicines in the mail. Both parties and the White House are on record with overwhelming support for an extension to the Payroll Support Program for essential workers and to keep service in place to small communities. But words of support won’t keep us flying or help us pay our bills. We need action TODAY. Cosponsor H.R. 8345/S.4634 to save our jobs! At midnight, we’re out of work and millions are hurting without this relief! Keep us connected to our jobs, paychecks, & healthcare. We are counting on you. Thank you.”

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. 

• Flight Attendants and aviation workers are facing massive layoffs on Oct. 1 if Congress does not act. [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 before Oct. 1. 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 >

#ReliefNow Actions

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:

#ReliefNow Day of Action - Wednesday, September 30
11:00 AM
Offices of Senators Blackburn & Alexander 
3322 West End Avenue
Nashville, TN 37203
RSVP here >

Plan your own #ReliefNow event >

• WATCH: Phoenix Flight Attendants Demand #ReliefNow
• WATCH: Atlanta Flight Attendants Demand #ReliefNow
• WATCH: New York Flight Attendants Demand #ReliefNow
• WATCH: Detroit Flight Attendants Demand #ReliefNow
• WATCH: Minneapolis Flight Attendants Demand #ReliefNow
• WATCH: Seattle Flight Attendants Demand #ReliefNow

Write Congress

Sign this letter to your Representative and Senators >

AFA to McConnell: 15 Day Deadline. Pass COVID Relief NOW.

“Congress has 15 days to act. Without a COVID relief bill that includes an extension of the Payroll Support Program (PSP), tens of thousands of aviation workers will lose their jobs on October 1, and that’s only the beginning.

“Majority Leader McConnell: The PSP enjoys overwhelming bipartisan, bicameral support. Inaction is not an option. You’ve got a simple way to prevent significant pain, but you’ve got to act now before our jobs are lost and small communities are cut off, causing more harm and more job loss.

"If Congress leaves without passing relief, tens of thousands of workers across key states will know who is responsible. We are grateful for those who have stepped up, but let me be clear: Without relief, you will not receive credit. We do not award participation trophies." 

Read the full statement >

Everyone Supports Our PSP Extension 

Has your Representative or Senator publicly declared their support our PSP Extension? Find out below and take action. Tell our supporters that we need them to fight for us and get a relief in place now. If they're not on the list, call your Representative or Senators and urge them to support our jobs.

• A bipartisan majority of 223 Representatives in the House went on record to support a clean extension of our PSP, stating "...passenger demand for air travel will not recover before the PSP expires. And without an extension, hundreds of thousands of airline workers will be furloughed.” Check to see if your Representative supports a PSP extension >
• 16 Republican Senators joined all Senate Democrats to “support a clean extension of payroll support for passenger air carrier employees included in the Cares Act to avoid furloughs and further support those workers.” View the Senate Republican Letter >
• When prompted by a reporter after the 16 Republican Senators signed the letter in support of our PSP extension, the President also endorsed the extension: "If they’re looking at [extending the Payroll Support Program], whether they’re Republican or Democrat, I’d certainly be in favor."

AFA in the News

• WATCH: Airline Workers Face Massive Furloughs on Oct. 1 if Congress Fails to Act, CNN
• U.S. airlines strap in for bailout suspense a day before furloughs, Reuters
• Pelosi cites 'positive' talk with White House on coronavirus aid, but clock is ticking, The Hill
• Unfriendly skies: Airline workers brace for mass layoffs, AP News
• OP-ED: To prevent mass airline industry layoffs, Congress must extend the Payroll Support Program, The Hill
• WATCH: Furloughed flight attendant's future uncertain as industry fights for aid, ABC News
• Pandemic Convinces Airline Workers It’s Time for New Horizons, New York Times
• Struggling Airline Industry Braces for Looming Layoffs as Congress Remains Deadlocked on Aid, US News & World Report
• Congress has 7 Days to Extend PSP Before Mass Layoffs Begin, MSNBC's Morning Joe
• Flight Attendant Union President Sara Nelson Argues Why Congress Must #ExtendPSP, CNBC Squawk Box
• U.S. airline industry steps up aid push despite Washington impasse, Reuters
• Unions, United and American Airlines CEOs hold press conference on coronavirus relief, FOX Business
• Airline workers rally outside McSally's office to urge Congress to extend payroll relief, Arizona Central
• CEOs and unions come together in 11th hour plea for Congress to save airline jobs, CNN
• Airlines, Unions Mount Lobby Blitz for Aid Before Layoffs, Bloomberg
• Anxious days for airline workers as mass layoffs loom, AXIOS
• Airline CEOs are still pushing for more government support, Simple Flying
• Airline industry presses for more aid, CBS This Morning 
• Airlines struggle amid pandemic, jobs at risk, TODAY Show
• Airline CEOs meet with White House in last-minute plea for more coronavirus aid, CNBC
• Airline workers rally for extension of ‘vital’ federal COVID-19 relief program, News5 Cleveland
• Hawaiian Airlines’ job cuts widen with delayed reopening for tourism, Honolulu Star-Advertiser
• Flight attendant advocate Sara Nelson fights to protect their jobs, Roll Call
• Airline workers have lower rates of COVID-19 than general population, Business Insider