Today, the voting procedure starts for almost 2,300 Atlantic Southeast Airlines and ExpressJet Flight Attendants in an election to figure out union representation. Voting instructions had been mailed by the National Mediation Board (NMB) today and Flight Attendants in the new ExpressJet are excited to unify in the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) in just 3 weeks when the voting results are announced on December 21, 2011. AFA already represents approximately 1,200 Flight Attendants at Atlantic Southeast Airlines.
"Today is an exciting day for Flight Attendants in the new ExpressJet and throughout our Flight Attendant union," stated Veda Shook, AFA International President. "Flight Attendants are extraordinary individuals and our work is unique. The biggest Flight Attendant union, run by and for Flight Attendants, AFA promotes our function as initial responders, negotiates industry-leading contracts, lobbies Congress and policy makers for secure, secure and healthy air travel and creates a network of Flight Attendants assisting Flight Attendants all through the globe. We've the experience and sources to negotiate the very best contract in the new ExpressJet. Flight Attendants may have peace of thoughts with our guaranteed seniority protection policy. With AFA they have a union operating 24/7 on supporting our function lifestyle and home life as Flight Attendants."
"AFA sought this election to unite Flight Attendants as quickly as possible to take advantage of the opportunities created from the merger and is uniquely positioned to advance the priorities of Flight Attendants. Built by Flight Attendants and run by Flight Attendants, our union has programs that improve every region of our work lives. Unified in AFA, we'll make sure Flight Attendants are full partners in the advantages of our new super regional airline," stated Lindsay Gardner, president of AFA at Atlantic Southeast Airlines.
The representation election isn't a vote to get a contract. Each contracts remain in location after the election. When it comes time to negotiate a single contract for your mixed Flight Attendant group, the best contract provisions from each contract will offer the floor for negotiations. AFA negotiates according to the priorities set by Flight Attendants via surveys, meetings and direct member feedback to elected Flight Attendant leaders.
"AFA is 100 % focused on Flight Attendants. As a super regional carrier, Flight Attendants in the new ExpressJet will benefit tremendously from AFA's excellent expertise more than nearly seven decades. We need a union that understands how to negotiate for our unique careers. AFA is the union that regularly negotiates higher spend for Flight Attendants with protections that pay us for all of our time on the job and away from home. We're prepared to be unified at the new ExpressJet with the concentrate on our careers that only comes with the world's biggest Flight Attendant union," said Roy Rodriguez, ExpressJet Flight Attendant. "Together we're better."
The Association of Flight Attendants is the world's biggest Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 % on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for more than 65 many years. Serving as the voice for Flight Attendants within the workplace, within the aviation business, in the media and on Capitol Hill, AFA has transformed the Flight Attendant profession by raising wages, benefits and working conditions. Almost 60,000 Flight Attendants at 24 airlines come together to type AFA, a part of the 700,000-member powerful Communications Employees of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. More election information at www.yourafa.org.
