Washington, DC – The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) has reached a tentative agreement with Alaska Airlines management on a five year agreement that would cover over 3,100 Flight Attendants. The tentative agreement, reached with the assistance of the National Mediation Board, contains wage increases and improved job security and protections.

“Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants were unwavering in our resolve that a new agreement recognize the contributions we make each and every day to our award-winning airline. We are proud partners in the great success of Alaska Airlines. It is now up to Flight Attendants to review the details and decide if it recognizes our innumerable contributions,” said Jeffrey Peterson, AFA President at Alaska Airlines.

The tentative agreement will be presented to the Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant leadership. Once approved to go out for a vote, further details will be released and the agreement will be sent to the membership for ratification.

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 over 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 at 20 airlines, including 6,800 members at US Airways, 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

http://www.afacwa.org/alaska_airlines_flight_attendants_secure_tentative_agreement

Washington, DC – The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) issued the following statement today after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) publically released final recommendations from the Portable Electronic Device (PED) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). AFA was selected to serve as the voice of Flight Attendants on the committee due to years of expert work on cabin safety issues. The committee was tasked with providing detailed recommendations on the expanded use of portable electronic devices in the aircraft cabin.

“Flight Attendants are the professionals responsible for responding to any emergency in the cabin. We provide an expert voice on how the use of these devices presents complex challenges for crewmembers in the cabin and unique issues for the safety of the passengers in our care.

“AFA supports technical innovation, but our first priorities are the safety and security of flight, as they are for the FAA, other aviation stakeholders and the traveling public.

“In order to expand the use of PEDs safely, the commercial aviation industry must first demonstrate that airplanes can tolerate electromagnetic interference from passenger devices. AFA is a strong advocate for streamlining the testing and validation processes needed to demonstrate this capability, and requiring that airlines and manufacturers complete this work as quickly as possible on all passenger airplanes.

“At the same time, appropriate policies and procedures, supported by effective crew training programs and focused safety messaging from the industry to travelers, are needed to ensure that expanded use by passengers does not degrade safety and security. AFA encourages the FAA and industry to develop and quickly adopt uniform technical, operational, and training standards that will allow for the safe, managed expansion of PED usage by passengers.

“As the use of PEDs on aircraft expands in the future, AFA will work diligently alongside the FAA and industry to find creative, science-based approaches to ensure that passengers comply with the new operator policies and that their attention is not diverted from the important safety information provided by cabin crew during routine pre-flight briefings and unexpected emergencies, and that risks posed by loose items in the cabin are safely managed during the most critical portions of flight.”

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.

http://www.afanet.org/association-of-flight-attendants-applauds-tsa-policy-reversal-and-seeks-permanent-ban-on-knives-on-planes.htm

For Immediate Release     

COALITION OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS COMMENDS TSA FOR KEEPING KNIVES OFF PASSENGER PLANES

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The 90,000-strong Coalition of Flight Attendant Unions today celebrated the success of its campaign to keep knives off planes and commended the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for holding the line against weapons on flights.

“We promised ‘No Knives on Planes Ever Again,’ and today that promise was kept,” the Flight Attendant Coalition announced. “Terrorists armed only with knives killed thousands of Americans on 9/11/2001. As the women and men on the front lines in the air, we vowed to do everything in our power to protect passengers and flight crews from harm and prevent that type of atrocity from happening ever again. We commend the TSA for revising its policy based on input from front line aviation workers with the greatest stake in the rule change. The result is better security policy and the assurance that our nation’s aviation security system continues to be vigilant for knives that could be used in a terrorist attack or criminal act against passengers or crew.”

Five unions representing 90,000 Flight Attendants from across the industry quickly mobilized after the TSA announced plans on March 5, 2013 to allow knives with blades up to 2.36 inches long back onto aircraft cabins for the first time since 9/11. Knives in the hands of terrorists or mentally ill or drunk or drugged passengers would have posed a clear threat to everyone in the air and in airport secure areas.

On May 6, 2013, each of the coalition unions representing Flight Attendants joined with TSA screeners, pilots, law enforcement officers and airline passengers to file a legal petition to the TSA against the rule change that would have permitted knives in the aircraft cabin. Administrator John Pistole demonstrated leadership and sound judgment by responding to this petition and other stakeholder feedback. Today, the Administrator has determined that knives will remain on the official “prohibited items list” governing what airline passengers may carry on their persons or in carry-on bags onto planes.

The Coalition of Flight Attendant Unions was quickly joined by organizations representing virtually everyone else potentially affected by a new knife policy, including TSA security officers, pilots, gate agents, federal air marshals, and airline passengers. The Flight Attendants thank the American Federation of Government Employees representing TSA Security Officers, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, FlyersRights.org, the nation’s largest organization representing air travelers, the Coalition of Pilots Associations, the United Airlines chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association, the families of Betty Ong, Sara Low and Alfred Marchand as well as Airlines for America, the trade association representing U.S. Airlines

The Coalition of Flight Attendant Unions was quickly joined by organizations representing virtually everyone else potentially affected by a new knife policy, including TSA security officers, pilots, gate agents, federal air marshals, and airline passengers. The Flight Attendants thank the American Federation of Government Employees representing TSA Security Officers, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, FlyersRights.org, the nation’s largest organization representing air travelers, the Coalition of Pilots Associations, the United Airlines chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association, the families of Betty Ong, Sara Low and Alfred Marchand as well as Airlines for America, the trade association representing U.S. airlines.

Flight Attendants also wish to thank Members of Congress from both parties for their crucial support. House Homeland Security Members Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA) were instrumental in pushing for a process that would include input from aviation stakeholders. Congressmen Ed Markey (D-MA) and Michael Grimm (R-NY) led the charge against knives in the aircraft cabin by introducing the No Knives Act of 2013 within days of the policy announcement. Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Kristin Gillibrand (D-NY), the late Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) co-sponsored the “Keep Knives Out of Our Skies Act.”

WWW.NOKNIVESONPLANES.COM

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Media Contacts: Corey Caldwell, AFA, ccaldwell@afanet.org; Anthony DeMaio, APFA, ademaio@oneillandassoc.com; James Carlson, IAM, jcarlson@iamaw.org; David White, IBT, dwhite@teamster.org; Jamie Horwitz, TWU, media@twu.org.

The Flight Attendants Union Coalition coordinates on issues of mutual interest to Flight Attendants. Members of the Coalition are the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), and Transport Workers Union (TWU).

Media Advisory for May 21, 2013 Contact: Laura Masserant 360-633-5905

Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants Rally For Contract

Washington, DC – As Alaska Air Group holds its annual stockholders meeting on Tuesday, award-winning Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, will rally outside as they continue to press management for a fair contract.

“Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants have been distinguished by numerous awards for our hard work, sacrifices and dedication. Bolstered by our exemplary
service, Alaska Airlines has just received the JD Power and Associates® award for the sixth year in a row—unprecedented in the industry. We have worked closely with management to create a winning strategy and have been key to the success of our airline. Despite this extraordinary performance record, our wages continue to fall below inflation and behind those of our peers in the industry. It is time for the over 3,100 Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants to reap the benefits of our airline’s success and be adequately compensated,” said Jeffrey Peterson, AFA president at Alaska Airlines. “We are stakeholders in this airline. We have proven our dedication.”

Flight Attendants’ contract negotiations began in November 2011 and have been ongoing for the past 18 months. AFA filed for mediation earlier this month after talks stalled over compensation. Mediation will begin in July.

Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants Rally Tuesday, May 21, 2013 1 p.m. Pacific Time (Stockholders meeting at 2 p.m.) Bell Harbor International Conference Center 2211 Alaskan Way, Pier 66 Seattle, Washington

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.