U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSES AFA-CWA FLIGHT ATTENDANT FMLA BILL

Legislation  Clarifies FMLA Language for Flight Crews

Washington, DC - The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Airline Flight Crew Family and Medical Leave Act by a unanimous voice vote today. Congressmen Tim Bishop (D-NY) and Thad McCotter (R-MI) sponsored the legislation that will clarify the intent of the original Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and finally provide all flight attendants equal coverage under this statute.

"AFA-CWA has worked hard to ensure that no flight attendant is left behind when it comes to FMLA coverage," said AFA-CWA International President Patricia Friend.   "We are extremely pleased that Representatives Bishop and McCotter's bill was a bi-partisan and unanimous effort to correct and clarify current FMLA language that has repeatedly denied many flight attendants from qualifying for coverage for years," said Friend.

Currently, flight attendants face many hurdles in order to qualify for FMLA benefits.  These hurdles are particular to airline employees since current FMLA language has been narrowly interpreted and has failed to take into account "the unique way in which the airline industry counts its workers hours." Congressmen Bishop and McCotter's bill will clarify the original 1993 FMLA law and ensure that flight crews are treated fairly and qualify for benefits. A similar bill was introduced and passed by the House last year on an overwhelming vote of 402-9. The Senate did not vote on the measure before the end of the Congressional calendar. 

"No one can question the benefits FMLA has provided for working women and men by being able to take time off from work to care for themselves or family members," said Friend. "This bill will clarify the intent of the law in order to provide a fair and well-deserved benefit to the hard-working airline crewmembers.  I urge the U.S. Senate to pass this important legislation."

The FMLA requires most employers to provide job-protected unpaid leave to employees who have worked 60 percent of a full-time schedule over the course of a year. However, the courts and federal agencies disregarded that original intent and narrowly defined the "full time schedule" as that of a traditional 40 hour work week, thereby excluding flight attendant's since their schedule does not fall with the traditional 9-5 work day. The Airline Flight Crew FMLA will correct this misinterpretation of the original legislation.