What Has AFA Done For Me?

PDF Version 

On February 11, 2016, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted to amend the F.A.A. Reauthorization Bill to require a minimum of 10 hours of rest for Flight Attendants. This critical piece of legislation helps ensure the safety and well-being of Flight Attendants and raises the bar in contract negotiations by establishing a stronger position at the bargaining table. The amendment was a direct result of lobbying efforts by AFA. The Bill also includes human trafficking awareness training for flight attendants, a ban on e-cigarettes, a ban on voice calls in flight, a review of evacuation certification standards, and improved notification of insecticide use.

The rest provision amendment did not happen overnight. It took years of hard work. But AFA worked hard and got it done. Working with government officials takes time and effort from skilled union officers who work tirelessly to advance the interests of Flight Attendants. You have already seen past results – married women can be Flight Attendants, smoking is no longer allowed onboard, and discriminatory weight restrictions have been banned. Without a strong Government Affairs Department and the support of our brothers and sisters at other unions, none of this could have been accomplished.

Unfortunately, the UFAA wants just that. The UFAA will not be involved in legislative work unless the Executive Board decides to conduct a poll of the membership to determine if action should be taken on a particular issue.¹ There are hundreds of issues affecting Flight Attendants. The UFAA headquarters will be Houston, not Washington, D.C.² Meetings with members of Congress and staff in D.C. is crucial to successful advocating. The Executive Board is authorized, but not required, to form a liaison committee to work with other labor organizations.³ AFA-CWA is part of the AFL-CIO, a 12.5 million member coalition of 56 unions including ALPA, IAM, NATCA, and the TWU. UFAA has no coherent plan for dealing with important legislative issues that affect Flight Attendants every single day.

AFA has:

• A strong Government Affairs Department dedicated to advancing the interest of Flight Attendants.
• A strong presence in Washington, D.C. with headquarters only blocks from the Capitol.
• A strong history of legislative success, even in times of bitter partisanship such as today.
• A strong relationship with other labor unions that work together to put pressure on Congress to act in your best interests.
• Flight Attendant Officers who know the career and industry and advocate in Congress directly for you.

Advocating for Flight Attendants interests in Congress takes hard work, every single day. The airlines know this, which is why every airline has lobbyists in D.C. advocating for their interest. You need the same, and with AFA you have it.