Greetings,

For Immediate Release Contact:  February 25, 2009 Corey Caldwell 202-434-0586

Washington, DC – The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) applauded Congress yesterday on confirming Rep. Hilda Solis as U.S. Secretary of Labor. Charged with protecting and promoting the interests of American workers, Secretary Solis’ experience and dedication will assist the Department of Labor in repairing broken labor law.

“We are excited at the opportunity to work with Secretary Solis on improving the lives of flight attendants,” said AFA-CWA International President Patricia Friend. “For the past eight years, the Department has neglected its obligation to flight attendants and other working Americans and repeatedly has followed corporate interests. Recently, the previous Department opposed legislation that would have allowed for flight attendants to qualify for time off work under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Working alongside Secretary Solis and her staff, AFA-CWA looks forward to the opportunity to ensure that flight attendants are permitted the same opportunity to care for their families as other employees.”

For over 60 years, the Association of Flight Attendants has been serving as the voice for flight attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill. More than 55,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines come together to form AFA-CWA, the world’s largest flight attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afanet.org.