Bankruptcy Court Rules to Abrogate Flight Attendants Agreement
Northwest Airlines received a bankruptcy court judgment today providing 14 days to reach an agreement with PFAA. If a new agreement cannot be reached, Northwest Airlines will be authorized to institute the March 1 Agreement (TA).
Despite this ruling, by law the company must continue to bargain in good faith in order to reach a new, consensual agreement. Your Negotiations Team and PFAA leadership will continue to work off of the TA rather than the punitive terms that NWA management threatened.
PFAA's focus continues to be to reach a deal that addresses the issues that you told us were most critical to our members.
As these events unfold, we are taking all actions and precautions to protect our careers and our future. Stay involved, stay informed and be ready to act when called upon.
To review PFAA's press release regarding today's ruling, visit the Press Room of pfaa.com: http://www.pfaa.com/News/Press/PR/062906.asp
In closing, please wear your PFAA union pins, keep our furloughed brothers and sisters in your thoughts, fly safe and remember to demand and not decline union representation!
PFAA Mission: Through democracy, negotiate and enforce the Flight Attendants' Agreement.
PFAA Vision: Secure the well-being and future for the members of PFAA through active involvement.
A view from the other side:
AFA-CWA OPTIMISTIC DESPITE COURT'S DECISION TO
ABROGATE NORTHWEST FLIGHT ATTENDANTS CONTRACT
Washington, DC - A federal bankruptcy judge today granted Northwest Airlines the right to abrogate the contract of their over 9,300 flight attendants. However, the court instituted a 14-day stay on the decision so that both parties can continue to negotiate. If no agreement is reached, the company can impose only those terms and conditions listed in the tentative agreement that failed last month. In addition, the court stated that "all concerned would be well-served if the flight attendants and the Debtors could resolve their disputes through continued negotiation ... the Court is therefore requiring the parties to make one last effort to reach a ratifiable agreement."
"This ruling underscores why the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) election at Northwest is so important," said Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International President. "Now more than ever, it is imperative that Northwest flight attendants have the experience and resources of AFA-CWA behind them to ensure that they prevail through this difficult period."
Flight attendants at Northwest Airlines are currently voting in a representation election that would allow AFA-CWA to serve as their bargaining representative instead of the Professional Flight Attendants Association, an independent organization. Voting in this election will end on July 6. AFA-CWA has already committed the resources necessary to begin negotiating a flight attendant contract with the company as early as July 7.
AFA-CWA has extensive experience in avoiding 1113© motions at other carriers. Last month, AFA-CWA was instrumental in a ruling that rejected the motion at Northwest Airlink's Mesaba Airlines and sent management back to the negotiating table.
For over 60 years, the Association of Flight Attendants has been serving as the voice for flight attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill. More than 46,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines come together to form AFA-CWA, the world's largest flight attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afanet.org
Northwest Airlines received a bankruptcy court judgment today providing 14 days to reach an agreement with PFAA. If a new agreement cannot be reached, Northwest Airlines will be authorized to institute the March 1 Agreement (TA).
Despite this ruling, by law the company must continue to bargain in good faith in order to reach a new, consensual agreement. Your Negotiations Team and PFAA leadership will continue to work off of the TA rather than the punitive terms that NWA management threatened.
PFAA's focus continues to be to reach a deal that addresses the issues that you told us were most critical to our members.
As these events unfold, we are taking all actions and precautions to protect our careers and our future. Stay involved, stay informed and be ready to act when called upon.
To review PFAA's press release regarding today's ruling, visit the Press Room of pfaa.com: http://www.pfaa.com/News/Press/PR/062906.asp
In closing, please wear your PFAA union pins, keep our furloughed brothers and sisters in your thoughts, fly safe and remember to demand and not decline union representation!
PFAA Mission: Through democracy, negotiate and enforce the Flight Attendants' Agreement.
PFAA Vision: Secure the well-being and future for the members of PFAA through active involvement.
A view from the other side:
AFA-CWA OPTIMISTIC DESPITE COURT'S DECISION TO
ABROGATE NORTHWEST FLIGHT ATTENDANTS CONTRACT
Washington, DC - A federal bankruptcy judge today granted Northwest Airlines the right to abrogate the contract of their over 9,300 flight attendants. However, the court instituted a 14-day stay on the decision so that both parties can continue to negotiate. If no agreement is reached, the company can impose only those terms and conditions listed in the tentative agreement that failed last month. In addition, the court stated that "all concerned would be well-served if the flight attendants and the Debtors could resolve their disputes through continued negotiation ... the Court is therefore requiring the parties to make one last effort to reach a ratifiable agreement."
"This ruling underscores why the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) election at Northwest is so important," said Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International President. "Now more than ever, it is imperative that Northwest flight attendants have the experience and resources of AFA-CWA behind them to ensure that they prevail through this difficult period."
Flight attendants at Northwest Airlines are currently voting in a representation election that would allow AFA-CWA to serve as their bargaining representative instead of the Professional Flight Attendants Association, an independent organization. Voting in this election will end on July 6. AFA-CWA has already committed the resources necessary to begin negotiating a flight attendant contract with the company as early as July 7.
AFA-CWA has extensive experience in avoiding 1113© motions at other carriers. Last month, AFA-CWA was instrumental in a ruling that rejected the motion at Northwest Airlink's Mesaba Airlines and sent management back to the negotiating table.
For over 60 years, the Association of Flight Attendants has been serving as the voice for flight attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill. More than 46,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines come together to form AFA-CWA, the world's largest flight attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afanet.org
