American Eagle Flight Attendants rush Northwest Airlines

On the morning of Tuesday, December 14 of 2005, five Flight Attendants from American Eagle Airlines, Inc. joined Flight Attendants from other airlines also represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO for a two day "blitz" operation at the Minneapolis - St. Paul International Airport.  As you might be aware, the Association of Flight Attendants - CWA, AFL-CIO has decided to seek the collective bargaining rights for the Flight Attendants of Northwest Airlines, who are currently represented by the Professional Flight Attendants Association.  The American Eagle Flight Attendants who assisted with this operation are Carol Harper of DFW, Debra McDougald of ORD, Chris Corona of ORD, Jillaine Quebman of ORD, and Mary Calabrese of ORD.  On behalf of all of us here at the AFA-CWA, thank you for your efforts!  Your performance during this critical event has proved to be quite exceptional.  You make us all proud at American Eagle Airlines, Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are now experiencing outsourcing in our industry!  As you might be aware, the management of Northwest Airlines has proposed outsourcing about 80% of its international flying to Flight Attendants overseas who would not be subject to the terms of their labor agreement.  Naturally, the AFA-CWA stands in staunch opposition to this proposal.  As we have come to learn in the airline industry, what one carrier does to cut costs often rolls over to other carriers.  If Northwest Airlines is permitted to outsource its international flying overseas, the other carriers will undoubtedly follow suit.  If this plan succeeds, Northwest Airlines can expect to lay off approximately 3,000 Flight Attendants, which amounts to a third of their entire workforce.

Aside from the threat of massive job losses, the efforts by Northwest Airlines also threaten our national security!  We have no way of assuring that background checks performed on international citizens are complete.  Keep in mind that when a pilot leaves the Flight Deck, a Flight Attendant enters the Flight Deck with the remaining pilot.  We need to be sure that our Flight Attendants undergo the most stringent of background checks available.  We thank the many members of Congress who have signed on to letters urging the CEO of Northwest Airlines to abandon his efforts.

Why should the Northwest Airlines Flight Attendants be interested in joining the AFA-CWA?  Collectively with the members of the Communication Workers of America, we are a union with the resources of three quarters of a million dues paying members, and as such, our financial resources to fight for the quality of life we deserve far outmatch those of the Professional Flight Attendants Association, who currently represents only the 9,000 Flight Attendants of Northwest Airlines.  The AFA sector of CWA alone is more than four times the size of PFAA.

Since the AFA-CWA is not currently the collective bargaining agent for the Flight Attendants of Northwest Airlines, we have no legal standing to forcefully intercede in this malicious plot by Northwest Airlines in the bankruptcy proceedings.  In this case, it has become necessary to strip the collective bargaining rights from a financially challenged union with minimal resources to fight one of the most critical battles in the history of this profession.  We must be the collective bargaining agent for the Flight Attendants of Northwest Airlines for their sake as well as our own.  We will not stand idly by and allow the financial shortcomings of PFAA to be consequential to the rest of us in the industry.  When you encounter Northwest Airlines Flight Attendants, be sure to inform them of what you've learned today, and urge these Flight Attendants to visit our website at www.nwaafa.org for more information on the AFA.  On this website, they will also find an Authorization Card which they should print out and mail to AFA.  This action will eventually lead to an election authorizing the AFA-CWA, AFL-CIO to be legally recognized as the sole collective bargaining agent for the Flight Attendants of Northwest Airlines.

If you are frequently in touch with Flight Attendants of Northwest Airlines, you are greatly encouraged to print out a few copies of the authorization card and personally deliver it to your fellow flying partners at Northwest Airlines along with this letter or any of the excellent letters found at www.nwaafa.org.

If you are interested in any future events to assist in the organizing of the Northwest Flight Attendants, please e-mail vtenerelli@aol.com.

In Solidarity,

Veronica Tenerelli

MEC President AFA-CWA

American Eagle Airlines