We have often discussed the lack of oversight of airline alliances and the harmful effects on our jobs. Glenn Tilton is charging ahead on Capitol Hill making sure Congress doesn't interfere with plans to continue to erode our jobs with these Alliances. Code sharing, alliances, and antitrust immunized corporate ventures result in fewer overall flights. Job loss is often a result even prior to actually receiving antitrust immunity.  We have an opportunity to do something about this. Tell me more

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As a constituent and Flight Attendant for United Airlines I urge you to support House Transportation and Infrastructure Chair, Congressman Oberstar's amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Bill to allow more analysis of the effects of airline alliances and anti-trust immunity.

Since Congress enacted the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 and placed greater reliance on antitrust enforcement in lieu of regulation, active scrutiny of airline alliances has eroded. Just weeks ago, the U.S. Department of Transportation granted tentative approval to Continental Airlines to join the Star Alliance, thus creating the largest airline alliance. Their approval included immunity against U.S. antitrust laws for Continental, United, Lufthansa and Air Canada to establish a trans-Atlantic venture. Conditions of the approval merely included that they implement the joint endeavor within 18 months and give regulators annual reports.

As employees and consumers, we should be very concerned about the lack of oversight of alliances such as these. We urge you to support Congressman Oberstar's position, who should be applauded for bringing forth this meaningful legislation that protects both consumers and aviation workers. The reality is that code sharing, alliances, and antitrust immunized corporate ventures reduce competition, raise fares and harm consumers and aviation workers. Fares rise and frequency of flights is diminished when all competition is erased. Flight Attendants and other airline workers are affected as these arrangements typically result in fewer overall flights. Job loss is often a result even prior to actually receiving antitrust immunity - this begins at the very beginning stages with code shares.

Congress must not lose sight of the longer term issues associated with joint ventures that are really nothing more than de facto mergers and are considerably harmful to aviation workers, passengers and the communities in which we work and live. These statutes exist for good reason and in light of the lack of meaningful regulatory oversight in the financial industry - increased scrutiny of airline alliances and the like in the aviation industry is an appropriate and prudent course of action.

I am especially concerned over the lack of protections for labor in the Department of Transportation's tentative approval of Continental Airlines and United Airlines' joint application for Anti-Trust Immunity (ATI), granted on April 7, 2009. The application states that "...Continental, in conjunction with United and other Star Alliance ATI Carriers, will pursue integrational efficiencies on a global basis in order to reduce costs..." Neither carrier fully explains what cost savings they envision.

This is about protecting American jobs and American consumers. The Obama Administration, the Department of Transportation and the Congress must ask the question, "Why does this Anti-Trust Immunity need to be on such a fast track?" Congressman Jim Oberstar, Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is right to put in place measures that allow us to move cautiously.

Please protect our jobs, the airline industry and the American consumer by supporting Oberstar's amendment.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
May 04, 2009