Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet Flight Attendants to Vote for World's Largest Flight Attendant Union

NMB Agrees with AFA - Declares New 'Super Regional' Ready for Union Election

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Mediation Board (NMB) today granted the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) request to declare that the Atlantic Southeast/ExpressJet merger has created a single transportation system for the purpose of Flight Attendant representation.  Over 2,300 Flight Attendants will soon vote for their union representation at the combined airline.

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"Today is an exciting day for Flight Attendants at the newly named ExpressJet.  Following an overwhelming vote for AFA by the 25,000 Flight Attendants at the new United Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet Flight Attendants are ready to join 60,000 AFA members to advance our careers. AFA sought this election to unite Flight Attendants as quickly as possible to take advantage of the opportunities created by the merger," stated Veda Shook, AFA International President.

"The benefits of membership in our Flight Attendant union are extraordinary," stated Lindsay Gardner, president of AFA at Atlantic Southeast Airlines.  "Flight Attendants are intelligent, creative people who demand the best of themselves and conditions for others.  Built by Flight Attendants and run by Flight Attendants, our union has programs that improve every area of our work lives and we have experts on AFA staff who dedicate their work to advancing our profession.  Unified in AFA, we will ensure Flight Attendants are full partners in the benefits of our new super regional airline."

The representation election is not a vote for one contract or the other.  Both contracts remain in effect after the election and set the minimum standards for a single contract.  The merger provides the opportunity to negotiate a new agreement with improvements that work for Flight Attendants from both airlines. AFA negotiates based on the priorities set by Flight Attendants through surveys, meetings and direct member feedback to elected Flight Attendant leaders.  

"AFA is the leading voice for Flight Attendants on Capitol Hill, with government agencies, at the bargaining table and on safety and security in the cabin," Shook concluded. "This election is about which union can best represent the Flight Attendants at the new ExpressJet. AFA is that union."

On July 12, AFA asked the NMB to declare that the merger of Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet had created a single carrier for union representation. Together, the approximately 1,100 Atlantic Southeast and 1,200 ExpressJet Flight Attendants will elect a single union to represent their professional interests as the official collective bargaining representative in their newly merged airline. A voting schedule is yet to be announced.

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 24 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