Formal charges have been filed by one of the American Airlines flight attendant base Presidents against their union President, Julie Hedrick.
These “Article VII Charges” allege ‘willful violation’ of the union’s constitution including improper use of union funds for personal enrichment. This includes the allegation of having the union lease her an apartment without first certifying that she lived outside the area (the union can lease apartments for its officers to stay at in Dallas only if their primary residence is elsewhere).
Discontent within the American Airlines flight attendant union comes at a time when Ms. Hedrick and other officers are seeking changes to their constitution, including over how they can manage its finances – and continue a long string of frustrations that members have had over how their union is run.
One former APFA union head was previously found to have improperly taken dues for personal use although he continues to dispute the claim, arguing instead that the allegations were motivated by those seeking to have American flight attendants disband their independent union and join Sara Nelson’s AFA-CWA.
The union has had a long history of weakness and failing to serve its member interests.
- From the time of the US Airways management takeover, when former CEO Doug Parker needed labor support and their leverage was greatest, they simply agreed to binding arbitration to get a contract done – failing to address many of the issues about which they had an opportunity to gain concessions. The union’s President at the time, a cousin of the US Airways treasurer, was accused by many of selling out members to management.
- Julie Hedrick was elected to be more confrontational with management yet never once criticized the largest flight attendant furlough of any airline in history, while Delta and Southwest weren’t furloughing anyone.
- Widebody staffing was never made an issue in contract negotiations. American reduced flight attendant staffing on widebody aircraft during the pandemic where there was less service to provide to fewer passengers, but never restored staffing levels (and is even asking the FAA to allow further reduced staffing as an option on Boeing 787-9 aircraft). The union did not seek to bargain over staffing levels in its latest contract.
- The union was never put in a financial position to withstand a strike if it were necessary. They’re now seeking not just dues increases from their members, but future automatic dues increases as well. A well-run union might put those dues to good use, but many flight attendants question whether the increased out of pocket cost to them will be worth it given their union’s history.
The problems at American Airlines are the fault of management, not this union. And while I often say that if I were a Delta flight attendant I wouldn’t vote to unionize, with this management at American I’d be reluctant to go without a union. Yet there’s tremendous dissention within the ranks of cabin crew, who feel like their union leadership hasn’t done a good job looking out for their interests.
For instance, one the one hand the new contract effectively creates new B-scale work rules for new hires in order to provide preferred schedules for veteran flight attendants, while failing to keep up with future raises at United and Delta, and locking flight attendants into the new wage structure for years after the end of their contract.
The new contract was passed by flight attendants eager for their first raise in five years after seeing the value of wages eroded by inflation, but fell far short of what they were told was being bargained for (with a compromise being struck only after current union officers locked in re-election).
Gary. The photo you posted with Julie (President AFPA) and her union members looks like orange jail jump suits!
Yikes. Resign already. Unions and workers organizing is not the problem; corruption is the problem. Actually hold people in positions of power accountable; this is the way. Wishing the best for the crews. They deserve better.
Note to Delta FAs
Remember when the Teamsters were overseen by the federal government for over 20 years because of their ties to the Mafia and their significant corruption. Most of that corruption took millions out of members health and welfare programs and into union leadership and mafia pockets
Just Google Union Corruption. Still happens all the time.
Where are the formal charges at? Was it that the union failed to fill out paperwork showing that her primary residence was outside DFW or was it that the union was actually paying the lease for primary residence in DFW? These details matter and without it or at least more information on the “formal charges” I think that this is not a fair story. Curious to know more about the story. P.S. I am not a AA FA union fan – just want a more complete narrative.
At the time of the takeover my first comment was”: ‘the union(s) made a deal with the devil” and time after time this manifests itself. A key that is totally missed/ignored in the commentary is that the American Flight Attendants acted like a bunch of sheep and allowed the smaller and corrupt union mob at USAir take them over and lead them down this disastrous path. No sympathy for any of them!
For decades, APFA members have chewed up and spit out every president to come their way. It’s a thankless job. I thought Denise Hedges would escape this fate after successfully leading the union through the ’93 strike, but barely two years later she was accused of being in bed with the company and forced out. Julie should just resign now and go into retirement. She’s in a no win scenario.
The ripeness of corruption with APFA has a long standing history. From Pat Gibbs using union dues to fund her law degree to negotiators going to Spain and Italy during contract negotiations. They can’t help themselves, the temptation is too great and their personal weakness shows thru how our contracts have been negotiated over the years.
APFA is and always has been a “sorority” union. They are too close to the company and continue to deliver sub standard contracts. Even when the membership voted NO, the union will overturn the vote. AA is the abuser and the APFA is the enabler. The company continually violates the contract and the union shrugs and says “it’s a gray area”. Most toxic work environment and glad to be far away from it all.
Look, people that are terrible at their jobs, are a liability to their company, and make way more than they are worth on the free market, are fighting each other. Way to go, safety workers. Please find another line of work, you suck at this.
They should bring in UNITE HERE. Those hotel workers are effective.
@Ralphie,
Pat Gibbs, wow that’s a blast from the past.
Please investigate PSA next!
Well this shakes my faith in the integrity of unions.
@Joseph
Go Google Unite Here Union Corruption. They aren’t any different than all the others as far as corruption goes.
Then there the data breech of 800,000 members personal information to the dark web.
Just WOW..”Willful violation ” of the union’s constitution…..
” Improper use of union funds for personal enrichment. ”
Tony Soprano would want her on his team for sure ! Can you prosecute her for being a lowlife thief ? She certainly deserves it..And she would definitely be blackballed from your union, I’d think..She couldn’t work so AA would immediately fire her ass..