America West Flight Attendants Support Mesaba Flight Attendants

Our Fellow Union Brothers and Sisters at Mesaba Airlines were dealt a devastating blow on Friday, July 14, 2006, when Federal Bankruptcy Judge Gregory F. Kishel sided with Mesaba Airlines’ management and granted the company's motion to abrogate the Flight Attendants labor contract.

Show your support for your fellow Union sisters and brothers. Send this letter to the AFA-CWA Leadership and the Rank & File Membership at Mesaba.  Tell them that you are standing shoulder to shoulder with them in their fight for justice and fairness. 

 

Gary Richardson-President

Association of Flight Attendants-CWA

Master Executive Council-Council 66 

 

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Standing With You In Solidarity

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As a fellow AFA-CWA member and a Flight Attendant at America West Airlines/US Airways I am outraged by Federal Bankruptcy Judge Gregory Fiskel's decision to grant Mesaba management's motion to abrogate your labor agreement.

The cowardly actions by Mesaba's management utilizing the Bankruptcy Court instead of the Bargaining Table to reach mutual agreement on issues underscores the plight all unionized workgroups may face and must be challenged at every level and in every way possible.

I support your endevours and stand shoulder to shoulder with you in this fight for Justice and Fairness!

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
July 21, 2006


Background Information

In a devastating testament to the enormous protection corporations receive under the bankruptcy code, Federal Bankruptcy Judge Gregory F. Kishel sided with Mesaba Airlines’ management and granted the company’s motion to abrogate the labor contract of their flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA).

“Today, our company and the bankruptcy court conspired to destroy our contract,” said Tim Evenson, Master Council Executive President for Mesaba Airlines. “If management makes good on their threat to impose their drastic wage and benefit cuts, there will be CHAOS TM at Mesaba Airlines.”

If Mesaba management acts on the courts order by imposing cuts that unilaterally alter the flight attendant contract, the Railway Labor Act affords the flight attendants the legal right to strike.

“This decision could have a devastating effect on the airline industry for years to come. History has shown us that what one airline is allowed to get away with under the bankruptcy umbrella becomes the goal for all other airlines. Because of what this bankruptcy court did today, we will wage that fight here at Mesaba – for our members and for flight attendants across the industry,” said Evenson. “We simply will not accept this injustice.”

On May 18, the bankruptcy court denied Mesaba’s first attempt to abrogate their labor groups’ contracts and recommended that management return to the bargaining table. Since then, management only met with AFA-CWA for two bargaining sessions, and began the first meeting by renewing their threat to seek a court order to reject the contract. After AFA-CWA’s counterproposal, the company refused to negotiate further. “That doesn’t seem like good faith bargaining, does it.” said Evenson.

If the 19.4 percent cut is enacted, the annual income of some Mesaba flight attendants with a family of four will be reduced to under $10,000 after paying for insurance benefits

Mesaba Flight Attendants are ready to strike if management chooses to impose its terms of 19.4% and 6 years upon the labor groups. CHAOS (Create Havoc Around Our System) is a trademarked strategy of the AFA and has been proven legal in a court of law.