The CWA-AFA has repeatedly stated that their goal is to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement applicable only to pre-merger United Flight Attendants. Only then will they begin negotiations for a joint agreement applicable to Flight Attendants at Continental and Continental Micronesia. Judging by their track record, the combined group could lack a unified contract for a decade or longer.
At US Airways, where the CWA-AFA represented both US Airways and America West Flight Attendants before their merger, a unified contract still has not been reached six years after those airlines merged. US Airways Flight Attendants are so fed up with their unions’ inability to negotiate a contract that members have recently recalled several officers. This is not the failure of individuals, however it is the institutional failure of a union that hasn’t evolved in response to a changing airline industry.
Not only has the IAM already negotiated contracts for its members at the post-merger US Airways that included wage increases up to 23%, enhanced job security, pensions for pre-merger employees who had none and date of hire seniority integration for everyone, but the IAM is now in the process of negotiating its second contract since the merger.
The IAM will negotiate for all Flight Attendants at the new United and include representatives from each pre-merger base (both Lineholders and Reserves) on the bargaining team.
The IAM negotiates industry leading Flight Attendant contracts in months, not years.
Promises and proposals don't benefit Flight Attendants—contracts do. The CWA-AFA has negotiated only two agreements in 20 years at United, which is why their contract is so archaic and their membership is so far behind the rest of the industry. In contrast, IAM Flight Attendants voted seven times and ratified five agreements at Continental in the same time period.
Waiting another six years for an agreement for just pre-merger United Flight Attendants (if the airline is even willing to negotiate for just one group) will irreversibly damage the career earning potential and retirement income of all Flight Attendants.
The IAM’s negotiations will begin at $52.53 an hour, not the other union’s strategy of continuing their stalled negotiations from $39.75 an hour. The IAM will negotiate from a position of strength with all three groups combined.
The other union’s repeated failure to complete good agreements is why they are responsible for the four lowest-paying Flight Attendant contracts in the industry, and none of the four highest-paying. It is impossible to elevate the profession by suppressing wages.
The IAM will unite all Flight Attendants and expeditiously negotiate the contract you want, and that work has already begun. Make sure you take the IAM’s initial bargaining survey for a combined contract for all Flight Attendants at the new United Airlines by clicking here.
A PDF flier can be downloaded here.
