Greetings,

Labor Department Grants AFA-CWA Request:
Flight Attendants Classified as Essential Employees

Flight attendants scored a major victory this week when the Department of Labor responded to AFA-CWA’s formal comments and reclassified the flight attendant occupation to its rightful place. The DOL’s Bureau of Labor Statistics maintains a Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) system in which every occupation is assigned to a certain category.

Flight attendants had been listed in the personal care providers’ category, along with professionals such as animal trainers, hairdressers, funeral attendants and fitness trainers. AFA-CWA has long disagreed with this classification and has worked to reclassify our profession with our fellow crew members and transportation workers.

For the first time in over 30 years, flight attendants will be listed with essential transportation workers such as pilots and air traffic controllers in the Transportation and Material Moving Occupation section.

The SOC is frequently used by government agencies when compiling and comparing employment data. AFA-CWA made the claim to the Department of Labor to re-evaluate the flight attendant classification after first securing flight attendant certification with the Department of Transportation.

AFA-CWA International directors from the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Air Safety Health and Security departments worked diligently alongside the Department of Labor to ensure that the federal government fully recognizes the value of flight attendants within the transportation industry.

This AFA-CWA victory in raising the profile of flight attendants is yet another step in the evolution of our profession to gain recognition from all levels of government and the public as safety professionals.

“I commend the Department of Labor for acknowledging that flight attendants are indeed essential employees,” said AFA-CWA International President Pat Friend. “Particularly in today’s world, the crucial role of flight attendants in ensuring the security and safety of passenger aircraft is an undeniable reality.”