- Dec 21, 2002
- 5,998
- 347
AA flight attendant union urges Obama to change mediation board
Terry Maxon
Laura Glading, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, has sent a letter to President Barack Obama asking him to change the members of the National Mediation Board.
In particular, she asked President Obama to replace the board chairwoman, "who has long overstayed her term, and her welcome."
Since last summer, the APFA and American Airlines have been in negotiations for a new contract. The NMB named a mediator to help in those talks in late December.
Glading said the NMB "still carries the Bush-era anti-worker stamp that marked his presidency. The consistent decisions by the NMB favoring management have had a debilitating effect on workers in our industry."
Airline unions are hoping that with Obama appointees, the NMB will shorten the time spent in mediation and let unions increase pressure on airlines.
For the full letter, keep reading.
March 5, 2009
His Excellency Barack H. Obama
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C.
Dear President Obama:
I am writing to appeal to you for quick action on a matter of critical concern to employees at American Airlines, and for many other middle-class workers across the country dependent on the rulings of federal agencies that have been severely tilted to favor management against employees.
I am speaking specifically of the National Mediation Board, which still carries the Bush-era anti-worker stamp that marked his presidency. The consistent decisions by the NMB favoring management have had a debilitating effect on workers in our industry.
Our members, flight attendants at American Airlines, have suffered deep cuts in wages, benefits and working conditions over the past eight years and with the NMB stacked against us, have little chance to recoup those losses. We urge you to quickly appoint a new member of the Board to replace Chairman Read Van de Water, who has long overstayed her term, and her welcome.
Our union knows there are several qualified candidates to fill this role, advanced by our union and others in the transportation industry. I am not writing in support of any one candidate but to simply urge you to make your selection quickly.
The American flight attendants, represented by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, the American pilots, represented by the Airline Pilots Association, and the American ground workers, represented by Transport Workers Union, are now in federal mediation, after months of fruitless bargaining. But as long as the Bush NMB lineup is in place, management has little reason to cooperate under the mediated talks.
I realize there are many demands on you during these early months of your Administration, and have been cheered by many of your decisions thus far.
Your appointment of a competent member of the NMB will have tremendous impact on the ability of workers to bargain for good pay and benefits, and restore the middle class in the United States.
Thank you for your consideration.
Laura R.Glading
President
Association of Professional Flight Attendants
Terry Maxon
Laura Glading, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, has sent a letter to President Barack Obama asking him to change the members of the National Mediation Board.
In particular, she asked President Obama to replace the board chairwoman, "who has long overstayed her term, and her welcome."
Since last summer, the APFA and American Airlines have been in negotiations for a new contract. The NMB named a mediator to help in those talks in late December.
Glading said the NMB "still carries the Bush-era anti-worker stamp that marked his presidency. The consistent decisions by the NMB favoring management have had a debilitating effect on workers in our industry."
Airline unions are hoping that with Obama appointees, the NMB will shorten the time spent in mediation and let unions increase pressure on airlines.
For the full letter, keep reading.
March 5, 2009
His Excellency Barack H. Obama
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C.
Dear President Obama:
I am writing to appeal to you for quick action on a matter of critical concern to employees at American Airlines, and for many other middle-class workers across the country dependent on the rulings of federal agencies that have been severely tilted to favor management against employees.
I am speaking specifically of the National Mediation Board, which still carries the Bush-era anti-worker stamp that marked his presidency. The consistent decisions by the NMB favoring management have had a debilitating effect on workers in our industry.
Our members, flight attendants at American Airlines, have suffered deep cuts in wages, benefits and working conditions over the past eight years and with the NMB stacked against us, have little chance to recoup those losses. We urge you to quickly appoint a new member of the Board to replace Chairman Read Van de Water, who has long overstayed her term, and her welcome.
Our union knows there are several qualified candidates to fill this role, advanced by our union and others in the transportation industry. I am not writing in support of any one candidate but to simply urge you to make your selection quickly.
The American flight attendants, represented by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, the American pilots, represented by the Airline Pilots Association, and the American ground workers, represented by Transport Workers Union, are now in federal mediation, after months of fruitless bargaining. But as long as the Bush NMB lineup is in place, management has little reason to cooperate under the mediated talks.
I realize there are many demands on you during these early months of your Administration, and have been cheered by many of your decisions thus far.
Your appointment of a competent member of the NMB will have tremendous impact on the ability of workers to bargain for good pay and benefits, and restore the middle class in the United States.
Thank you for your consideration.
Laura R.Glading
President
Association of Professional Flight Attendants
