APFA Shows Solidarity in Fight to Save Contracts

WASHINGTON - The union representing more than 25,000 flight attendants at American Airlines yesterday offered its strong support for members of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA seeking to preserve their wages, work rules and retirement benefits at United Airlines and US Airways.

"These are career workers who had to fight for the right to hold a job following marriage, becoming a parent and working beyond age 32, as well as the right to receive the same treatment as their colleagues in the cockpit. And now, these same flight attendants are being forced to fight for their very existence," said Tommie Hutto-Blake, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants.

"We at APFA understand their frustration and resolve to take their very compelling disputes from the courtroom to the streets," Hutto-Blake added. "Watching the management styles of their carriers reminds this industry and its workers of the '80s when Frank Lorenzo destroyed the careers of airline workers, from his low-cost airline People's Express to his network airlines Eastern and Continental."

Earlier this week, AFA warned that the abrogation of a collective bargaining agreement by any one of its carriers, including United and US Airways, will invite industry-wide CHAOSTM, the union's tactic of surprise work stoppages at times, locations and flights of its choosing.

"The union-busting challenges we face today are shared by all of our colleagues in other unions here and around the world," said AFA International President Patricia Friend. "APFA's offer of solidarity greatly strengthens our cause, and demonstrates its recognition that for working people everywhere, an injury to one is an injury to all."

More than 46,000 flight attendants join together to form 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.afanet.org.