Association of Flight Attendants-CWA

Washington, DC (April 18, 2017) — The National Mediation Board (NMB) today certified the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) as the sole bargaining representative of the combined Flight Attendant work group at post-merger Alaska Airlines.

“We are so excited to welcome Virgin America Flight Attendants to AFA,” said Sara Nelson, international president for the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. “Virgin America Flight Attendants will have their own local council and elected representatives to serve in AFA leadership. Our entire union stands with the Virgin America and Alaska Flight Attendant representatives to ensure they achieve the full benefits of the merger.”

The Virgin America Flight Attendants voted for the Transport Workers Union (TWU) in August 2014. AFA is proud to partner with TWU in lifting the standards for Flight Attendants across the industry. AFA appreciates TWU’s immediate agreement that AFA would serve as the surviving union at Alaska Airlines in order to provide a smooth transition for Flight Attendants.

All Flight Attendants at the merged airline have the protection of AFA’s seniority integration policy. The seniority Flight Attendants bring to the merger is maintained and protected. AFA will also immediately seek an increase to wages for Virgin America Flight Attendants as they currently earn far less than Alaska Flight Attendants.

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The Association of Flight Attendants is the Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for 71 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 50,000 Flight Attendants come together to form AFA, part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.