Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants Union Pledges to Support Contract Employees’ Fight for Fifteen

May 7, 2015 09:33 By Jeffrey Peterson (MEC President)

For Immediate Release Contact:

May 7, 2015 Jeffrey Peterson 206-999-8207

Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants Union Pledges to Support Contract Employees’ Fight for Fifteen

Seattle, WA (May 7, 2015) – Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), issued a statement today in support of Alaska Airlines contract workforce in their fight for $15 an hour and a union.

AFA has a long, proud history of supporting workers throughout the airline industry and we believe that all jobs in our airports and on our airplanes should be good jobs with union rights, safe working conditions, fair wages and quality affordable health insurance. Alaska Airlines’ contractors, including Menzies Aviation, BAGS, DGS, Huntleigh and Aviation Safeguards should be no exception.

Contract airport workers employed by Alaska vendors at many of its West Coast airports are being held back in their struggle to improve the quality of their jobs, win a voice on the job and ensure safer working conditions. These workers move our passengers’ luggage, clean our planes and provide wheelchair assistance to our passengers in need.

All workers performing services for Alaska Airlines should receive their fair share of the wealth that we are all helping to create. As Alaska Air Group continues to make record profits, our airline management and its selected vendors should not stand in the way of these workers trying to form their own union.

Ten years ago this month, Alaska Airlines executives made the decision to outsource almost all of our baggage handlers. This is after having outsourced much of our heavy maintenance and all of our cabin cleaners. While these decisions have helped the airline to return investment to shareholders, they also eliminated thousands of middle class jobs. Today, these contracted out jobs are with low pay and few benefits. The cities of Seattle and SeaTac recently raised their minimum hourly wage, yet Alaska Airlines is standing in the way of SeaTac workers fully realizing the wage increase. We need sustainable jobs for thriving communities to ensure the continued success of Alaska Airlines.

As aviation’s first responders and the last line of defense, Flight Attendants understand that all workers in aviation are part of the safety and security web that continues to keep our skies the safest in the world. Through our membership in AFA, we are able to partner with our management and the FAA on programs keeping safety at the forefront as we continually improve our practices. All frontline workers performing service on behalf of Alaska have the right to the same types of safety programs – and travelers deserve the assurances these safety programs provide.

In the best interest of Flight Attendants, shareholders and the passengers in our care, Alaska’s contract workers need to be able to exercise their voice and work with the company to address their unique safety concerns through their membership in unions.

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The Association of Flight Attendants is the world’s largest Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for 67 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.

ALA Press Release – Support Contract Employees

AFA Media Release: Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants Ratify New Contract

December 17, 2014 10:00 By Brian Palmer (MEC Vice President)

For Immediate Release Contact:
December 17, 2014 Molly Sheerer 202-550-5520

Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants Ratify New Contract

Washington, D.C. (December 17, 2014) – Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO, voted to accept a tentative contract agreement on Wednesday that offers significant improvements for the 3,400 Flight Attendants at Alaska. Assistance was provided through mediation by the National Mediation Board.

“Today, Alaska Flight Attendants made a collective decision that will carry us through the next five years,” said Jeffrey Peterson, AFA president at Alaska Airlines. “We are dedicated to advancing the Flight Attendant career for ourselves and future Flight Attendants to come.”

The new five-year agreement includes some of the top pay in the industry, built-in protections for reining in health care costs, improved job protections and work rules.

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The Association of Flight Attendants is the world’s largest Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for 67 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 60,000 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.

[AFA Int’l Media Release] Flight Attendant Union Promotes Bill For Permanent Ban On Knives In The Aircraft Cabin

April 6, 2014 12:00 By Jeffrey Peterson (MEC President)

http://www.afacwa.org/flight_attendant_union_promotes_bill_for_permanent_ban_on_knives_in_the_aircraft_cabin

April 02, 2014

Washington, DC– The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), today pledged unyielding support for a new bill that would place a permanent ban on knives in the passenger cabin. The bi-partisan bill, H.R. 4368, was introduced by Representatives Michael Grimm (R-NY), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), David Joyce (R-OH), and Daniel Lipinski (D-IL). It serves as companion legislation to Senate bill S. 1008. AFA issued the following statement, commending the lawmakers who are taking sound action for aviation security and refusing to forget why there is a ban on knives in the passenger cabin.

“After leading intense efforts last year to ensure that knives are kept on the prohibited items list and out of the passenger cabin, our Flight Attendant union remains steadfast in pushing for a permanent ban secured by law. We are dedicated to working with Congress on swift passage of this bill. Passengers, law enforcement, crew members, airport ground staff, security experts and airlines all agree: there should be no knives ever again.

“We applaud the leadership of Representatives Grimm, Gabbard, Joyce and Lipinski. These lawmakers are helping to strengthen our nation’s aviation security. Their work will result in safer flights for millions of Flight Attendants and passengers.

“Flight Attendants are united in this fight and have resoundingly sent one simple message: no knives on planes ever again. Together with our allies, AFA has been successful in keeping knives on the prohibited items list, but it is crucial that Congress act on this legislation for a permanent ban.

“This is a bipartisan issue that is supported by an overwhelming majority of Americans. It’s about our history and our future security. It’s time: No Knives, Ever Again.”

The Association of Flight Attendants is the world’s largest Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for 68 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 60,000 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.

Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants Reject Tentative Agreement, Demand Improvements

February 14, 2014 12:30 By Brian Palmer (MEC Vice President)

Washington, DC – Flight Attendants at Alaska Airlines, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), today voted down a tentative agreement with management. Through the vote, Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants sent a strong message to management that they expect more for their award-winning contributions to the airline.

“Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants have collectively declared today that management’s proposal fails to address the needs of Flight Attendants and does not reflect our true worth. We remain unified as a group and focused on our future. Through tireless effort, we have helped create a successful strategy that has resulted in increased profits for our airline. It is well past time for management to hear us and negotiate an agreement that meets the priorities set by Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants and that can be ratified,” said Jeffrey Peterson, AFA President at Alaska Airlines.

Negotiations began two years ago and, in May 2013, AFA filed for mediation with the National Mediation Board. During negotiations, Alaska Airlines earned record-breaking profits and continued to earn top awards and accolades for customer satisfaction with the assistance of the Flight Attendants. Next, AFA will re-survey the over 3,100 Flight Attendants to determine their top priorities. The National Mediation Board retains oversight of future negotiations.

The Association of Flight Attendants is the world’s largest Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for 68 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 60,000 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.

References

ALA Press Release

Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants Begin Voting on New Agreement

January 17, 2014 10:12 By Brian Palmer (MEC Vice President)

Washington, DC – Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), today begin voting on a new contract that includes top-of-the-industry improvements in many categories. Voting concludes on February 14 at 9:00 am PST with results announced shortly after.

“Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants have earned industry awards over the years and worked with management to create a winning strategy for our airline and it is important that a new contract reflect those contributions. Throughout these negotiations, Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants mobilized for an agreement that recognizes our award-winning role. While the AFA negotiating committee worked tirelessly for the priorities identified by the membership, the decision is up to the over 3,100 Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants,” said Jeffrey Peterson, AFA President at Alaska Airlines.

The tentative agreement was reached in December 2013 with the assistance of the National Mediation Board.

The Association of Flight Attendants is the world’s largest Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for 68 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 60,000 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.