Association of Flight Attendants-CWA

National Mediation Board Announces Dates for Union Election

Washington, DC – The National Mediation Board (NMB) today announced the voting schedule for a representation election for United, Continental and Continental Micronesia Flight Attendants. Balloting instructions will be sent to the over 24,000 Flight Attendants on May 17 and voting will close June 29, 2011.

“Flight Attendants at the new United Airlines are ready to take control of their careers at the world’s largest airline following the merger of their respective airlines,” said Veda Shook, AFA International President. “As the world’s largest Flight Attendant union, run by Flight Attendants, AFA has been on the forefront of every important Flight Attendant issue for 66 years, building the Flight Attendant career and promoting our work as first responders.  Our union’s founding members from United together with our soon-to-be newest members from Continental are poised to work together in AFA to advance our profession with an industry-leading contract at the new United Airlines.”

“Safe, efficient air travel is made possible by the professional work of Flight Attendants and our contributions must be recognized through the world’s leading Flight Attendant contract at the world’s leading airline” stated Greg Davidowitch, AFA president at United Airlines.  “AFA is uniquely positioned to advance the priorities of Flight Attendants and with the election dates now set, we will successfully conclude the United Flight Attendant contract negotiations and work with our Continental Flight Attendant counterparts to move towards joint Contract negotiations.  The last negotiating stall tactic on the part of United management will soon be eliminated as Flight Attendants send a strong mandate that their voices will be heard in this merger.”

The representation election is not a vote for one contract or the other. Both contracts remain in effect after the election. The best contract provisions of each Contract – United, Continental and Continental Micronesia – provide the floor for negotiations on a single contract.  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.  Our union has a long history of building Flight Attendant careers.  Our union negotiates for the total work life based on the priorities set by Flight Attendants at each of our member airlines.  United and Continental Flight Attendants are eager to be unified and our union looks forward to the incredible contributions our newest members are bound to make for our profession,” said Shook. “Together we’re better.”

For over 60 years, the Association of Flight Attendants has been serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill. Nearly 50,000 Flight Attendants at 21 airlines come together to form AFA, the world’s largest Flight Attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.unitedafa.org.