Spirited picket strains by flight attendants and their supporters at some 30 airports worldwide Feb. 13 gave voice to their calls for for brand spanking new contracts, greater wages and respect for the almost 100,000 employees who’ve toiled for years underneath expired contracts.
The Affiliation of Skilled Flight Attendants, Affiliation of Flight Attendants-CWA and Transport Staff Union Native 556 joined forces in a bid to push again towards the bosses and their use of the notorious anti-union Railway Labor Act that hogties their unions’ efforts to win higher contracts.
Over 500 flight attendants from American Airways, United Airways and Southwest Airways and their supporters rallied outdoors Chicago O’Hare Worldwide Airport. “I completely know that that is the primary time they’ve seen a exhibiting like this,” Transport Staff Union Native 556 member Corliss King instructed the press.
Katrina Fraley, an American Airways flight attendant, instructed Militant reporter Dan Fein, “We’d like a cost-of-living adjustment, extra trip time and a wage enhance. I haven’t had a increase in 5 years.”
“Company greed doesn’t fly” learn indicators carried by 40 pickets on the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Worldwide Airport in Florida. “We don’t receives a commission when passengers board,” Satin Fye, a member of TWU Native 556, instructed Militant reporter Steve Warshell. “All that point is free for the corporate. We wish that pay! We additionally need greater wages usually as a result of our charges don’t come near matching inflation.”
Some 250 flight attendants rallied at Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport in Washington. Jeffrey Peterson, Affiliation of Flight Attendants Alaska president, instructed the Militant that flight attendants from Alaska, United, Southwest, American, Frontier, Air Wisconsin and Horizon airways turned out. “We’re out right here supporting one another. Tens of hundreds of flight attendants have been in negotiations for one to 3 years.”
A broad vary of unions turned out at Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport. The airport restricted how many individuals may take part, however folks lined as much as be part of the picket line and the boisterous pickets drew a crowd. Members from UNITE HERE, United Auto Staff, SMART-TD rail employees, Service Workers Worldwide Union, Worldwide Brotherhood of Electrical Staff and the Teamsters union all got here to indicate their help.
Tony Totty, president of United Auto Staff Native 14, got here from Toledo, Ohio, to signify his union on the motion. “I feel the prevailing message that employees took from the UAW strike is,” he instructed the Militant, “you’ll be able to win.”
“This battle is about extra than simply cash,” Chip Lowe, a union official from the Affiliation of Flight Attendants, instructed the Militant. One other situation is staffing. “They used to have no less than yet another flight attendant per flight, however airways now run with the Federal Aviation Administration minimal,” he stated. “It has nothing to do with assembly the wants of the shoppers on the flight.”
Some 350 picketed at San Francisco Worldwide Airport. Members from all three unions had been fired up, buoyed by protesting collectively. A cheer went up when it was introduced flight attendants at Alaska Airways simply voted to authorize a strike by 99.48%. It was the primary strike mandate in three a long time, reflecting labor’s elevated willingness to battle.
Hundreds extra joined actions elsewhere, from Guam to London.
