|
|
|
|
|
Flight Attendants Call Out United’s Corporate Greed
Association of Flight Attendants members picketed at San Francisco International Airport December 13 to protest United Airline’s newly-announced staffing cuts on international flights. January 2019
United is planning to reduce staffing by one flight attendant per flight in its international business cabins and will have meals pre-plated by ground caterers instead of having flight attendants take on that task. “As first responders, to have one less person on the airplane is not good for the passengers, and not good for the crew,” said AFA Council 11 Vice President Stan Kiino. The airline says pre-plating meals for business class passengers on international flights reduces the need for flight attendant staffing and matches lower standards implemented at American and Delta. “Pre-plated meals are not a substitute for flight attendants on planes,” Kiino said. “Flight attendant staffing is about safety and service. Flight attendants serve as critical first responders, preparing for the worst and planning for the best on every flight. When emergencies happen, we need enough crew to safely respond.” The rally at SFO was one of several held around the U.S. and internationally on the flight attendants’ system-wide day of protest. Flight attendants and supporters from other unions rallied at United’s key hubs across the country, including Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport, among others. AFA union leaders said flight attendants were are taking their fight public “because our fight affects the traveling public too, and management should not only be answering to Wall Street. The people on planes are the ones who matter.” The AFA is also calling on United to eliminate “long sits” that require some flight attendants to work schedules that include an overnight red-eye transcontinental flight followed by another morning flight the same day. In a message to the flying public, the AFA-CWA noted that flight attendant staffing is about safety and service, and that Flight Attendant will not accept the lowest level for passengers in either case. Fewer Flight Attendants means boarding planes takes longer, carts more frequently block the aisle, food and beverages arrive later and sit on tray tables longer.” A statement from the union pointed out that while the new cuts to staffing and service in a time of massive profits is the last straw, United Airlines management is failing to deliver on several fronts, with continuing glitches in payroll processing and contract provisions that haven’t been implemented. The flight attendants are demanding changes that include stopping planned staffing and service cuts and instead increasing staffing across the system, as well as fixing payroll issues, and ensuring Flight Attendants have access to hotels in the event of severe weather and irregular operations. San Mateo Labor Council Executive Secretary-Treasurer Julie Lind-Rupp said the Labor Council and its affiliated unions stood in solidarity with the flight attendants. ‘That’s what the labor movement is all about—solidarity,” she said. “It’s about working people standing together and having a voice at work to demand what is right. We join you today to demand that United give you the pay, safe working conditions and respect you deserve, and that they invest in you and the work you do just as you have invested in them.” Several unions were represented by members who joined the picket line in support of the flight attendants, including the Communication Workers of America, Teamsters, Machinists, American Federation of Teachers, Airline Pilots Association, Theatrical and Stage Employees, Sign and Display, and UNITE HERE Local 2.
AFA Council 11 Vice President Stan Kiino
American Federation of Teachers member Melinda Dart marched in solidarity with flight attendants at San Francisco International Airport December 13. |
|||||
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
