Union Says It Will Oppose Any Transaction That Violates
Contracts
Flight Attendants at United
Airlines, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA,
AFL-CIO (AFA-CWA), have made it clear that a new contract with
pay, benefit and work rule improvements must be concluded before
they can consider support for the announced merger between United
Airlines and Continental Airlines.
"Management needs to pay attention to the extraordinary hurdles
associated with any merger transaction," said Greg Davidowitch,
AFA-CWA President at United. "They cannot move forward without
various approvals by the government, other constituencies and
agreements with labor. Integration of inflight operations could
take years to complete and it will not occur at all unless we can
support the deal with the protection of our jobs and improvement of
our careers upfront."
During its annual Board of Directors meeting this week the union
reaffirmed its commitment to protect flight attendant interests and
the continued AFA-CWA representation of all flight attendants.
AFA-CWA is the largest flight attendant union in the world. The
union is the recognized leader in advancing flight attendant issues
on Capitol Hill, in the courts and at the bargaining table.
"The largest flight attendant union
in the world will see to it that United Airlines flight attendants
get a fair contract before any merger is consummated. All flight
attendants must be protected and careers advanced if this merger is
to move forward," stated Patricia Friend (right), AFA-CWA
International President.
"CWA will vigorously defend the rights of AFA-CWA United flight
attendants in the fight for a fair contract and during and after
the merger process," stated Larry Cohen, president of the
Communication Workers of America, AFL-CIO, the parent union of
AFA-CWA.
In the coming weeks the union will convene a Special Meeting of
the AFA-CWA United Master Executive Council, made up of local
leaders elected by their peers at 14 flight attendant bases around
the world, to review the specific merger terms. The review will
focus on job implications, the improvements expected upfront
through RLA Section 6 bargaining and service to passengers and the
communities where they live and work.
"We will oppose any transaction that violates our contract or
seeks to disrupt our efforts to improve our pay and working
conditions through our current Contract negotiations," stated
Davidowitch. "Upon concluding our review we will move forward using
any and all options - including legislative, legal, political and
all mobilization strategies - in support or opposition to the
proposed merger."
"We will not support this merger unless and until our interests
are addressed. This merger won't be consummated without the
involvement of United flight attendants," Davidowitch
concluded.