United Airlines Flight Attendants Offer Solutions To United's Staffing Problem

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Airlines Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), affirms our resolve to collaboratively work with the company and prevent the company from following through on their plan to furlough nearly 700 Flight Attendants.  This afternoon, AFA United Master Executive Council President Greg Davidowitch again pressed the need for collaborative and cooperative solutions, and proposed a package of measures designed to put an end to their plan to involuntarily furlough flight attendants.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110302/DC58223LOGO)

"There are any number of solutions that could eliminate any need for an involuntary furlough that have not been fully utilized by management, and could resolve the dispute. Throughout this process, we have continually advocated that cooperative solutions, which don't result in job loss, are the best path forward for Flight Attendants and the company.  Working with the union to arrive at a solution is the hallmark of a successful management and company.

These reasonable alternatives address concerns from both sides, and enable all parties to return to our mutual efforts of focusing on building the world's leading airline. We call upon management to work with us to implement solutions today, to prevent job loss tomorrow," said Davidowitch.

Following management's announcement on Wednesday, AFA immediately filed a Cease and Desist letter to the company requesting the immediate withdrawal of efforts to put Flight Attendants out of work. While working together is the best way through this, we are prepared for more aggressive action if necessary.

"While pursuing diplomacy, we have retained outside legal counsel in addition to our internal AFA legal counsel and are fully prepared to pursue any and all legal measures, including Federal Court, if appropriate and necessary.

"It has been almost four years since management stood before the world and promised great things would result from their merger.  United's merger was supposed to provide, award-winning customer service and industry-leading on-time performance, and most notably, employees would benefit from enhanced long-term career opportunities and greater stability. Four years later these promises remain unfulfilled.  Furloughing almost 700 Flight Attendants is a failure of the promise of career opportunities and greater stability," added Davidowitch.

Nearly 55,000 Flight Attendants, including the over 25,000 Flight Attendants at United Airlines, join together to form The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), the world's largest Flight Attendant Union. AFA is part of the 700,000 member strong Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.unitedafa.org.

SOURCE Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA)