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Sep 7, 2010
FMLA Victory For Flight Attendants
FMLA “Airline Flight Crew Technical Corrections Act” Passed; Bill Now Awaits Signature By President Obama
[12.04.09] -- UAL MEC E-Lines -- Today we are just one final step away from enacting meaningful legislation to ensure that Flight Attendants are treated fairly and able to qualify for the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) benefits. Wednesday, the House passed legislation that makes qualification for FMLA more accessible to Flight Attendants. As you know, under existing rules we face qualification challenges unique to our industry due to our non-flying hours not being counted towards the total hours of service.
To address this disparity, Congressman Tim Bishop (D-NY) introduced legislation in the House to clarify the original 1993 FMLA law. A similar companion bill, introduced by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) was passed in the Senate last month and came before the House for a final vote this week. The bill passed the House by a strong bipartisan voice vote, and passed the Senate on November 10th by unanimous consent; the bill now goes to President Obama for his signature.
This is an enormous victory for Flight Attendants, as we are about to finally be provided equal access to the same coverage that has long benefited every other worker in America. This achievement has been made possible through your calls and letters to Congress in support of this important legislation and made the difference in changing the 16-year-old law to include Flight Attendants. We recognize, and are appreciative of the efforts of Senator Patty Murray, Congressman Tim Bishop for championing this legislation, as well as the work of former Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) in the 110th Congress. We also wish to acknowledge the efforts of Debbie Golombek (UAL AFA MEC Government Affairs Chairperson) and our AFA Government Affairs committees for working tirelessly on behalf of ALL Flight Attendants across the United States.
REMEMBER THE TIMES: United Lobbied Against FMLA For Flight Attendants
As we move forward in our legislative priorities, and our Contract Negotiations, let us not forget that United Airlines spent $3.4 million lobbying against worker rights in 2007. There is no doubt, United management continues to spend millions of dollars lobbying, all while they feign poverty and complain about being "uncompetitive" in their cost structure. Perhaps they need to stop spending millions of dollars on lobbying and on union busting tactics. A lot of "food for thought" during the Holiday Season...
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See Also: Support Letter from U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) below |
United Airlines spent $3.4 Million to lobby; Contesting Crewmember FMLA is one of them
Excerpt from March 7, 2008 E-Lines:
[03.07.08] -- Last week we advised you that management not only refused to work with AFA and ALPA in support on the legislation that would give crewmembers equal access to qualifying for Family and Medical Leave under the law, Peter Kain, Vice President of Employee and Labor Relations advised us on behalf of Sean Donohue, Senior Vice President Onboard Services and Flight Operations that United opposes passage of this legislation.
This week we discovered through the public record Congressional lobbying disclosure forms that United spent $3.4 million in 2007, and listed their opposition to the “Airline Flight Crew Technical Corrections Act” as part of their lobbying activity. In other words, this management team is spending millions of dollars to oppose your right to have access to the Family and Medical Leave Act in an equitable manner. This is a right under the Law that every other worker in this country -- including United management -- has access to. We must again fight United management for equal access to FMLA under the Law.
Do not allow their dirty tactics to succeed. It is more critical than ever that you call your Representative and Senator to ask them to co-sponsor HR 2744 in the House and S. 2059 in the Senate. Congress needs to hear from you, and you need to demand that this legislation is passed immediately.
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