Flight attendants OK nationwide strike in US
The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA)-CWA unanimously approved a resolution calling for a nationwide strike, as members at struggling US Airways and United Airlines face new wage cuts.
The board said in a statement: “The current assault by airline management has evolved from seeking to cut costs on the basis of proven economic need to a destructive ‘race to the bottom’ that threatens to cause the collapse of wages, benefits and working conditions across the industry.”
Earlier, Patricia Friend, union president, called for a strike after accusing the airline industry of using the bankruptcy process to cut workers’ pay and eliminate other benefits.
“Our entire industry is in turmoil and the careers of our flight attendants all hang in the balance,” said Ms Friend.
She added: “Almost everywhere, flight attendants are being forced to work longer hours with reduced rest time, and all for ever-decreasing wages. This must stop.”
Several carriers, including US Airways and United, have used the Bankruptcy Code to renege on employee obligations, according to the union. Some cuts have involved the elimination of pension plans.
Ms Friend said the union will now poll members at four airlines on whether to strike. There will be no immediate strike because that process will take until the end of December.
If there is a strike, AFA officials said they will try to involve other airline employees.
“Through this extraordinary effort, we seek nothing less than to prevent the destruction of our careers and our industry,” the AFA board said.
AFA with 46,000 members is the world’s largest flight attendant union.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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