In a joint letter to members of Congress, AFA International President Pat Friend and American Airlines’ Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) President Laura Glading urged elected officials to “support a full review of deregulation” of the airline industry and its effects on consumers and employees since 1978.

Included with the letter was a copy of Flying Blind: Airline Deregulation Reconsidered, a report by Demos, a non-partisan public policy research and advocacy organization.  AFA and APFA agree with the report’s findings that the hyper-competition and price-gouging that lead to “low airfares are as much a problem as an achievement if they leave an industry without the resources to maintain service standards and make crucial investments in equipment, technology, and human capital.”

AFA and APFA are working together on Capitol Hill to improve the lives of flight attendants worldwide through lobbying efforts that bring attention to our profession.  We believe it is critical that Congress, the Department of Transportation and the Obama administration earnestly review the effects of deregulation and explore creative solutions that will bring stability to the airline industry and to its thousands of dedicated frontline safety professionals.

Delegates from the Association of Flight Attendants and other CWA affiliated unions had a terrific send-off at the CWA Convention and Legislative-Political Conference this week from Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis.  Vice President Biden reminded us that if we unite we can change this nation.  He said the Obama administration is committed to giving workers the bargaining power we need to rebuild the middle class.  The idea ”is not anti-business.  It isn’t anti-corporate. It isn’t anti-anything,” Biden said. “It’s pro making sure that people who have a stake in the game and a contribution to make are able to sit at the table.  You can’t do that if you can’t get organized.  We need to restore some balance to this system.”

Senator Harkin shared a well-known saying from the halls of Congress, “If you aren’t at the bargaining table, you’re on the menu,” and Secretary Solis assured us that after eight years, the Department of Labor is finally “back in the enforcement business.” To view the videos of speakers from the CWA Convention and Legislative Political Conference, click HERE.  For the rest of this article, click HERE. 

Dear Flying Partners,

A FURTHER REDUCTION IN FLYING WAS ANNOUNCED - I have been briefed by the Company regarding the announcement of a further planned 5% reduction in flying.  The information I received has been provided to all elected AFA officers system wide this morning.  This was also announced in an internal memo to all employees at both Delta and Northwest and to the public.  Details of the reduction plans can be found in the internal memo sent in Company email and posted on ATLAS and DeltaNet.  Your AFA representatives will continue to work with the Company, to do everything in our power to eliminate the need for any involuntary furloughs or transfers.  SLIP leaves, Company Convenience Leaves, and Split Line (shared line program) negotiations will continue - all toward the goal of protecting flight attendant jobs.  For the rest of this message, click HERE. 

“Who kept the faith and fought the fight; The glory theirs, the duty ours.” ~ Wallace Bruce.  Of paramount importance this holiday weekend, we remember and honor our American men and women who have died while in military service, as well as our fellow flight attendants and family who we have lost in the past year.  Flight attendants have died in the line of duty, and we honor their professionalism and their sacrifice.  Please click HERE for the remainder of our Memorial Weekend message.  Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!