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Sep 10, 2010
FlightPAC: How Voluntarily Contributions Support Flight Attendant Protections
“As a Congresswoman and a union member, I’m proud to stand with Flight Attendants and the AFA, our frontline heroes in the skies. Your voices are critical to the debates in Congress.” –Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO, is a union organized by Flight Attendants to act as their voice in the workplace and advocate on their behalf in the airline industry, in the halls of Congress and with the DOT, FAA, TSA, Homeland Security and Administration. AFA-CWA represents 55,000 Flight Attendants at 20 different carriers. As the largest Flight Attendant union in the world, AFA-CWA is the leading advocate in many areas affecting aviation safety and Flight Attendant working conditions.
As Flight Attendants, we work in a highly regulated environment. Decisions which affect our safety and security, our work environment and our job security are routinely made in Washington, D.C. AFA-CWA maintains a voice in the political process to express the concerns of Flight Attendants on issues which impact our security and safety, our health, our workplace, the safety of our passengers, and our rights to union representation.
Government Affairs and FlightPAC (Political Action Committee), are designed to represent AFA-CWA's lobbying and political action efforts. Our grassroots activities are intended to educate elected officials about aviation issues to ensure they are aware of our views. Lobbying is an essential component of a successful union program.
Voluntary paycheck contributions to FlightPAC help to protect your job, supports our fight to earn a livable wage, and makes the aircraft cabin a safer and healthier work environment. We have already seen that airline management and the FAA do NOT have the best interests of Flight Attendants at hand. Now, more than ever, it is crucial for AFA-CWA to maintain a strong presence in the political arena to ensure Flight Attendant interests are protected and Flight Attendant concerns are heard. Individual voices are difficult to be heard on Capitol Hill, so it is vital that we focus our voice through FlightPAC!
Airline Corporate PAC’s & Executives gave over $5 million last election cycle. AFA-CWA contributions were around $200,000.
“The Association of Flight Attendants does an excellent job representing the men and women who make air travel safe and comfortable. Their professionalism in the sky readily transfers to the halls of Congress when advancing issues important to their members and the traveling public." – Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA)
FlightPAC - What is it; what does it do?
FlightPAC provides Flight Attendants with a voice, and provides our membership with the ability to support activists and elected representatives who take a stand for our legislative goals. FlightPAC has enabled Flight Attendants to achive protective legislation, taking negotiatiated items off the bargaining table and attaining protections through law and legislative mandates.
Our profession exposes us to a variety of health and safety risks. Overstuffed carry on bags falling out of the overhead bins, terrible air quality in the cabin and the necessary safety and health protections enjoyed by all other American workers to name a few. Sometimes you feel as if these conditions will never change. Rest assured, AFA-CWA is fighting to improve the working conditions for each and every one of you. AFA-CWA is able to fight these battles in the halls of Congress through your contributions to FlightPAC.
“It is very important for all Americans to be involved in the political process. Supporting AFA and their political efforts is an excellent way for you to band together with your fellow flight attendants and have your voices heard in Congress. AFA is an excellent advocate for flight attendants in Washington and I’m proud to work with them on important issues such as improving airline security, protecting pay and benefits, and preventing foreign ownership of airlines and outsourcing of flight attendant jobs.” – Congressman Rob Simmons (R-CT)
We need a Flight Attendant-friendly Congress - NOT a CEO-friendly Congress. FlightPAC allows us to achieve that goal.
• FlightPAC is non-partisan and independent - we support those who support us!
• FlightPAC offers strength in numbers to fight for Flight Attendant-friendly legislation & issues
FlightPAC is part of the political arm of AFA-CWA that allows your voice to be heard on Capitol Hill. Without contributions to FlightPAC, the following issues would be unresolved.
 FlightPAC was the driving force to get Congress to:
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• Ban smoking on all domestic & international flights
• Increase fines for assaulting a crewmember from $1,100 to $25,000
• Recognize our profession as Safety & Security Professionals through Flight Attendant Certification Legislation
• Acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of our F/A Heroes on 9/11
• Enact a detailed study of the causes and effects of F/A Fatigue
• Produce an independent study of Cabin Air Quality
• Make U.S. industry-wide Duty Time Limitations for F/As
• Give F/As “whistleblower protections” so we may report workplace hazards without having to fear retaliation by management
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For the 109th Congress (2006), some of the issues we've lobbied include:
Protecting ourselves is the main priority of FlightPAC. Big business is constantly attempting to strip workers of their rights to a fair wage and workplace protections. Airlines and their management teams donate millions of dollars every year to elect and re-elect anti-worker Members of Congress and Presidents. Today, airlines face serious financial problems. They ask labor to take pay cuts to help them control costs. We do it. What do they do? They hire a group of high-dollar lobbyists for millions of dollars to take away our rights to collective bargaining. FlightPAC is your tool to stop these underhanded attacks on your rights.
AFA-CWA faces many fights this Congress. Flight attendants do not have basic workplace health and safety protections and AFA-CWA will continue to insist that this injustice is addressed. Poor cabin air quality for cabin crew is an ongoing battle - we will not give up until we can breathe easy.
FlightPAC money will be utilized by the AFA-CWA to fight for your rights. FlightPAC contributions are voluntary contributions made by you. Contributing money allows FlightPAC to increase the chances of candidates who support your rights. Imagine the advances we could make in improving our workplace and our profession as a whole if every AFA-CWA member contributed to FlightPAC! Our Congress would have the resources to help address issues that affect our workplace and lives.
“The safety of our skies is vital to our national security. Flight Attendants are the first line of defense onboard an aircraft, helping to ensure the safety and security of the flying public every day. Their job is critical, but often taken for granted. That’s why you can be sure I’ll continue working hard on behalf of flight attendants.” – Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR)
What IS FlightPAC?
FlightPAC is the best way to make your voice heard in Washington. It is the most important tool that AFA-CWA has to help elect Senators and Representatives who understand and defend the issues important to flight attendants. It provides AFA with access to Members of Congress that in turn allows AFA-CWA Government Relations to make our case for the issues that affect flight attendants.
Is FlightPAC bi-partisan?
Yes. We DO NOT look to party labels. Our criteria is simple - you either support efforts to improve the lives and workplace of all Flight Attendants or you do not. We give to candidates who help flight attendants. We send questionnaires to candidates to get their views on flight attendant issues. In turn, we support those who respond favorably, regardless of party affiliation. AFA-CWA understands that not all of our members have the same political/social beliefs. The fact remains that there are issues that affect all members. These include OSHA protections, FMLA qualifications, the right to collective bargaining, air quality and a host of other workplace related issues. AFA-CWA does not factor in the social views of any of our members or the candidates we choose to contribute to.
Why should I support with contributions?
For as little as a few dollars per pay period, our collective numbers would amount to a force to be reckoned with. Contributions help to protect your job, earn a livable wage and make the cabin a safer and healthier work environment. If this is important to you, AFA-CWA encourages you to participate in FlightPAC. Some major battles have already commenced for AFA-CWA in Congress. We have gained momentum on our priority issues and we need every member to contribute and keep this momentum going.
Airline Corporate PAC’s (Political Action Committees) and executives gave over $5 million last election cycle. AFA-CWA contributions were around $200,000. We still pulled off some great victories, but we need to elect more Members who are friendly to our issues. Campaigns are becoming outrageously expensive and our candidates need our help more than ever.
Please return your completed form to the AFA box in LAXSW mailfile room.
Click HERE to download the form now!
FlightPAC luggage tag & letter will be sent following receipt of your form
• United Airlines MEC Government Affairs
• AFA-CWA INT'L Government Affairs
Meet some of your coworkers who are AFA Activists - click HERE >>
Look Who's Talking! - Click HERE to see what F/As are saying! >>
Collective Voices, Resounding Strength - Click HERE for more! >>
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