American Eagle Flight Attendant Union Leaders Examine Potential Spin-Off and Advantages for Members

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) aggressively continues to secure job protections and identify advantages for American Eagle Flight Attendants in preparation for the carrier's potential divestment later this year. Since initial speculation of a spin-off, American Eagle Flight Attendants, represented by AFA, have been working with industry and economic experts in order to ensure that the nearly 2,000 Flight Attendants are recognized for their contributions to the carrier and are best positioned to take advantage of opportunities available after a divestiture of the airline.

"The world's largest Flight Attendant union proudly stands with our American Eagle flying partners. We will continue to provide the union's full resources and the solidarity of 60,000 Flight Attendants to ensure good jobs and a solid future for our sisters and brothers at American Eagle," said Veda Shook, AFA International President. "American Eagle Flight Attendants' contributions over the past three decades have been vital to the continued success of the carrier and management must recognize that those contributions have created opportunities for the airline's future."

Earlier this month, AMR Corp., the parent company of American Eagle, announced the intention to create a separate company for American Eagle. A formal decision from AMR's Board of Directors will be announced November 2011.

"AFA has been actively working with management on exploring a preferential hiring agreement with American Airlines," said Robert Barrow, AFA American Eagle MEC President. "It is crucial that we move forward and ensure that America Eagle Flight Attendants are recognized for the distinguished professionalism that has created this successful carrier."

American Eagle is a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Airlines. The American Eagle network is the largest regional airline system in the world, with over 1700 daily flights to more than 170 cities throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, the Bahamas, the Caribbean and Mexico.

The Association of Flight Attendants is the world's largest Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for over 65 years. Serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill, AFA has transformed the Flight Attendant profession by raising wages, benefits and working conditions.  Nearly 60,000 Flight Attendants at 23 airlines come together to form AFA, part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.

SOURCE Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO