AFA-CWA Council 12 | United Airlines Los Angeles

Sep 10, 2010

Whatever It Takes: "Terminal 7 On January 7"
United Flight Attendants flood LAX in support of contract negotiations

[01.14.10] -- Los Angeles Int'l Airport -- Flight Attendants made history one week ago at LAX. On January 7, 2010, there was a massive showing of 350 Flight Attendants and supporters in the largest turnout that LAX has ever seen. This sent a strong message to United Airlines management that we are not only standing together in these contract negotiations, but it also clearly shows the many supporters we have. Our family and friends were there standing with us at the curb; those who have seen first-hand what we have endured for 7-plus years at the hands of United executives and management. United Flight Attendants commuted in from San Diego, Phoenix, Honolulu, Santa Barbara, and all over the Southern California area to participate in this landmark, world-wide event.

Hundreds bid the day off, or came in from vacation or voluntary furlough to unite as one voice and one union. Across the system, nearly 2,000 United Flight Attendants turned up at United airports to send a message to United Airlines management: "Enough IS Enough!" At the event, Flight Attendants from other airlines, workers from other unions, and our passengers all expressed their support of our profession and our contract negotiations.

WATCH VIDEO CLIP: Click here for a YouTube video clip from our LAX Picket Event!

United 1K Passenger of the Year extends his support

United Airlines LAX 1K Passenger of the Year, Mr. Jim Anderson showed up to support, and lifted the spirits of United Flight Attendants at our curbside event. He was greeted with applause, hugs, cheers, and hand shakes by dozens of United Flight Attendants. Many were meeting Mr. Anderson for the first time; others have had the pleasure of having him aboard their flights multiple times. As we thanked him for his loyalty to United Airlines, he in turn thanked Flight Attendants for the wonderful service and attention while he travels aboard United Airlines flights. (At right, AFA LAX Activist Lynn Statham thanks Jim Anderson with a warm hug as AFA LAX President Darren Shiroma and other Flight Attendants applaud.)

LAX Flight Attendants were joined by our coworkers from Frankfurt, London, Narita, San Francisco and New York as well. United ALPA Pilots, The Writers Guild of America (WGA-West), CWA (Verizon & AT&T workers), Retired United Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA RMC) and Flight Attendants from Northwest (now Delta) & American Eagle (AFA-CWA), American Airlines (Association of Professional Flight Attendants), and Southwest Airlines (Transport Workers Union) were all standing alongside United Flight Attendants in this monumental show of union solidarity.

Management interference and intimidation tactics

United management attempted to force many airport authorities across the world to revoke or restrict permits to Flight Attendants in an attempt to silence our legal right to protest and rally in support of our contract negotiations. While there were many reports of supervisors and management taking photos or peering through terminal windows (or lurking in a parking lot in HNL) in an attempt to intimidate Flight Attendants, there were no altercations or confrontations except at one airport. Los Angeles.

The United Airlines (LAXSW) Operating Manager from Onboard Service cited a "report from Customer Service management" (yes, fellow management) that Flight Attendants were "impeding customer access" to the Sky Cap check-in counter. Later investigation by the LAPD Labor Relations Division Sargeant revealed that the Sky Cap employees cited: "they (Flight Attendants) were actually assisting customers to the Sky Cap counter." In fact, an elderly passenger fell at the curb, and Flight Attendants quickly left the picket line to tend to her as first responders. The Operating Manager for Onboard directed Flight Attendants to "stay in a single-file line," and announced, "you're blocking the counter." She commanded those same instructions to Flight Attendants from other airlines, non-United Airlines workers from AT&T and Verizon (CWA members), our friends, family members and children, and the Executive Director of the Writers Guild of America too! Flight Attendants on their day off, and on public property were shocked and embarassed by the behavior; but stood their ground and refused to become intimidated.

Other supporters present reported that she was not only unprofessional, but out of line for interfering with a legally sanctioned union activity. Dozens of LAX Airport Police, four LAPD Police Sargeants, and the Lieutenant Commander for LAX Airport Police were there from the start of the event, and observed zero violations of city or state rules, regulations, or public codes. It was confirmed that she had no legal rights or jurisdiction to direct citizens and participants on public property; this is the sole responsibility of airport and police officials who were all present at the time of her arrival outside United Airlines terminal 7. Contrary to management's insinuations, the event was orderly and unfortunately, we again see this type of behavior by management at LAX. In 2005, management disrupted our legal picket activities at LAX as well. (Click here for 2005 AFA Picket interference by management.)

Thank you to all those who donated food, beverages, baked goods and snacks! And, to our AFA LAX Membership Engagement Committee for their work at the curb! Thank you to all who came out to represent our union membership at LAX!