Tag Archives for union.
The American Airlines flight attendants union sent out a ‘hotline‘ message to cabin crew calling out management after a loss-making quarter. There’s a lot to criticize in how the airline has been run. None of those things are what the union chooses to highlight.
An American Airlines 25 year veteran flight attendant who was assaulted by a passenger on a Charlotte – Las Vegas flight has been fired by the airline over the incident. As usual, the crewmember’s union has not been helpful.
The union, ALPA, wants “assurances that [Bedford] will maintain the current requirements” and is expressing “concerns” about his nomination. They’re trying to position themselves within a Trumpian MAGA framework, explaining their separate efforts to fight greater automation in cockpits by “foreign airlines and manufacturers” is at odds with an “America First” agenda.
The Department of Homeland Security announced plans to end unionization of TSA screeners. Unionization of the screening workforce was forbidden when the agency was set up after 9/11. This was added in the Obama administration.
Flight attendants union head Sara Nelson was the guest on the Airlines Confidential podcast this week. She shared the story of getting involved in union activism after 9/11 and said that “the biggest complaint I heard from flight attendants was ‘I didn’t feel seen, I didn’t feel respected’” and said that people didn’t realize that there were unions then. By her own standard then, she’s failed her members.
United Airlines is requiring flight attendants to give them at least 8 hours’ notice that they’re sick, or else risk discipline (including termination). Their union just lost a grievance against this policy, so it continues.
Dispute resolution training is required for anyone in the union to file a grievance, and since none was ever scheduled, no one at the Association of Professional Flight Attendants can file any grievance against the airline on behalf of a flight attendant.
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.
American Airlines reduced the number of flight attendants working its widebody and premium domestic flights during the pandemic. Flight attendants weren’t serving extensive meals then, and there weren’t as many passengers on board.
When the pandemic ended, the airline didn’t restore staffing levels.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
