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AFA-CWA defends Midwest flight attendants flight attendants' seniority

Direct News Source

04-May-2010 Former Midwest Airlines flight attendants, supported by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), filed a lawsuit this week against the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Republic Airways as a result of the Teamsters' refusal to participate in a fair and equitable seniority integration process that is required by federal law.

Since the two carriers merged earlier this year, only a few former Midwest flight attendants have been offered jobs with Republic and have been forced to start at new hire pay and seniority since Republic management has refused to credit the many years they worked at Midwest.

"We are entitled to seniority integration. Thank goodness we were represented by AFA-CWA and they continue to standby us," said Cat Reed, former AFA-CWA Midwest President. "This injustice potentially could affect all aviation employees in the country and we are not going to stand by and let it happen without a fight."

Federal law ensures that when air carriers merge, all covered employees are entitled to "fair and equitable" seniority integration. This process, as outlined in the McCaskill-Bond legislation, ensures that no group of employees is stapled to the bottom of a seniority list. In the airline industry, seniority determines everything from flight attendants' hourly wages, to where they are based and even what trips they fly.