Flight Attendant Union Pushing Back on Outrageous Chapter 11 Demands by American Eagle Management
21-Mar-2012 The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) at American Eagle, representing over 1,800 Flight Attendants at the airline, is prepared to push back on overreaching, outrageous contract cuts presented today by management. AFA American Eagle President Robert Barrow issued the following statement after management presented its laundry list of cuts to compensation, benefits, work rules and quality of life:
"It is outrageous that American Eagle Flight Attendants are facing an attack on their contract simply because the cloak of bankruptcy allows for it. Just prior to American Airlines' bankruptcy filing, Flight Attendants were negotiating for a new contract and management had already agreed to significant work-rule and benefit improvements and acknowledged that a pay raise would be part of that package. Nothing has changed except that bankruptcy gives management a hammer and a process to demand unreasonable concessions from workers.
"American Eagle is a profitable subsidiary of AMR and it is shameful that Flight Attendants, who are an instrumental part of a successful operation, are being handed a list of concessions as a result of bad management decisions in the larger corporation.
"Recognizing the realities of bankruptcy, AFA leaders are working with our legal staff and advisors to examine management's demands. We will vigorously oppose unnecessary concessions in order to minimize the impact of Chapter 11 on Flight Attendants. AFA will continue to ensure Flight Attendants are represented fairly during this process."