Dear folks,
If you are an airline workers (working, furloughed, on leave, retired, whatever), and you believe that war is the wrong way to go, you should know that there is going to be a large peace rally in NYC this coming Saturday, Febuary 15th. You can get more detail on the peace rally at www.commondreams.org Come and march with Flight Attendants for Peace (others are invited: We''d be happy to make it Airline Workers For Peace!!!!)
Below is a statement from the Alaskan Airlines AFA MEC legislative chair and an anti-war resolution passed by their MEC. A similar resolution has been passed at the UAL AFA MEC. I think it makes the case pretty well.
If you are against the war, and you would like to make your voice heard, please drop me personal message. If you are going to the February 15th anti-war rally, then I encourage you to gather with other like-minded airline workers. Let me know and we can coordinate.
Thanks!
-Airlineorphan
By Bev Bullock
MEC Legislative Chair
Last October AFL-CIO Pres. John Sweeney in a letter to Congress questioned the wisdom and the necessity to wage war with Iraq. Although Saddam Husseim is a menace, Sweeney urged that our policy towards Iraq not distract from the war on terrorism and the al Qaida terrorist network. Recently AFA Int''l President Pat Friend sent a version of an anti-war resolution to all MEC councils and thus opened the door for flight attendants to address the issue of war and its impact on the aviation industry.
Since the events of September 11, the aviation industry has been in an economic tailspin. Thousands of airline workers have been laid off, two major carriers are in bankruptcy and employees continue to give concessions in wages and benefits at other airlines. If a war were to ensue, we can only forsee higher fuel costs, higher security costs, and a drop in business and pleasure travel. Even top Alaska management has recognized the impact such an event would have on the airline''s ''bottom line''. Alarmingly, airlines and airplanes could once again be the target of retaliatory terrorist attacks. John Sweeney ends his letter by saying, “after all it will be the sons and daughters of America''s working families who will be asked to carry out this mission. We know at Alaska Airlines that some of our own rank and file, our fellow workers will be put in harm''s way.
After much deliberation the Alaska MEC leadership unanimously adopted a resolution with the sincere belief that a war with the Iraqi people is not in the best interest of flight attendants or this nation, and with sensitivity to those among our ranks in the armed services who will be making the greatest sacrifice.
In solidarity
------------------------------------------------------
January 15, 2003
Association of Flight Attendants, AFL-CIO
Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council
Resolution condemning a United States unilateral war with Iraq
WHEREAS, the US airline industry is in economic distress continuing to lose millions of dollars, and
WHEREAS, airline management will continue to ask for flight attendant concessions to their wages and benefits, and
WHEREAS, any increase in operating costs or reduction in revenue will put serious strain on the financial condition of our airlines and endanger the continuing existence of many US airlines, and
WHEREAS, a US preemptive war with Iraq is sure to cause an immediate increase in the cost of jet fuel, higher security costs and fewer business and pleasure travelers, and
WHEREAS, we fully support the hard working men and women of our armed forces and are concerned for their safety, and
WHEREAS, we remember that the first victim of September 11th, 2001 was a flight attendant,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Alaska AFA Master Executive Council on behalf of our flight attendant members and their families calls upon President George W. Bush and the current US political leadership to seek any and all alternative means for addressing the lawlessness of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Council holds strongly the belief that a war with the Iraqi people is not in the best interest of flight attendants and other airline workers, and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that we urge President Bush and members of the US Congress to stop the plans for war and redirect resources to help the thousands of unemployed airline workers, stabilize the financially troubled airline industry and fight the daily threat of domestic terrorism.
This resolution was unanimously adopted by the AFA Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council on January 15, 2003.
If you are an airline workers (working, furloughed, on leave, retired, whatever), and you believe that war is the wrong way to go, you should know that there is going to be a large peace rally in NYC this coming Saturday, Febuary 15th. You can get more detail on the peace rally at www.commondreams.org Come and march with Flight Attendants for Peace (others are invited: We''d be happy to make it Airline Workers For Peace!!!!)
Below is a statement from the Alaskan Airlines AFA MEC legislative chair and an anti-war resolution passed by their MEC. A similar resolution has been passed at the UAL AFA MEC. I think it makes the case pretty well.
If you are against the war, and you would like to make your voice heard, please drop me personal message. If you are going to the February 15th anti-war rally, then I encourage you to gather with other like-minded airline workers. Let me know and we can coordinate.
Thanks!
-Airlineorphan
By Bev Bullock
MEC Legislative Chair
Last October AFL-CIO Pres. John Sweeney in a letter to Congress questioned the wisdom and the necessity to wage war with Iraq. Although Saddam Husseim is a menace, Sweeney urged that our policy towards Iraq not distract from the war on terrorism and the al Qaida terrorist network. Recently AFA Int''l President Pat Friend sent a version of an anti-war resolution to all MEC councils and thus opened the door for flight attendants to address the issue of war and its impact on the aviation industry.
Since the events of September 11, the aviation industry has been in an economic tailspin. Thousands of airline workers have been laid off, two major carriers are in bankruptcy and employees continue to give concessions in wages and benefits at other airlines. If a war were to ensue, we can only forsee higher fuel costs, higher security costs, and a drop in business and pleasure travel. Even top Alaska management has recognized the impact such an event would have on the airline''s ''bottom line''. Alarmingly, airlines and airplanes could once again be the target of retaliatory terrorist attacks. John Sweeney ends his letter by saying, “after all it will be the sons and daughters of America''s working families who will be asked to carry out this mission. We know at Alaska Airlines that some of our own rank and file, our fellow workers will be put in harm''s way.
After much deliberation the Alaska MEC leadership unanimously adopted a resolution with the sincere belief that a war with the Iraqi people is not in the best interest of flight attendants or this nation, and with sensitivity to those among our ranks in the armed services who will be making the greatest sacrifice.
In solidarity
------------------------------------------------------
January 15, 2003
Association of Flight Attendants, AFL-CIO
Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council
Resolution condemning a United States unilateral war with Iraq
WHEREAS, the US airline industry is in economic distress continuing to lose millions of dollars, and
WHEREAS, airline management will continue to ask for flight attendant concessions to their wages and benefits, and
WHEREAS, any increase in operating costs or reduction in revenue will put serious strain on the financial condition of our airlines and endanger the continuing existence of many US airlines, and
WHEREAS, a US preemptive war with Iraq is sure to cause an immediate increase in the cost of jet fuel, higher security costs and fewer business and pleasure travelers, and
WHEREAS, we fully support the hard working men and women of our armed forces and are concerned for their safety, and
WHEREAS, we remember that the first victim of September 11th, 2001 was a flight attendant,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Alaska AFA Master Executive Council on behalf of our flight attendant members and their families calls upon President George W. Bush and the current US political leadership to seek any and all alternative means for addressing the lawlessness of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Council holds strongly the belief that a war with the Iraqi people is not in the best interest of flight attendants and other airline workers, and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that we urge President Bush and members of the US Congress to stop the plans for war and redirect resources to help the thousands of unemployed airline workers, stabilize the financially troubled airline industry and fight the daily threat of domestic terrorism.
This resolution was unanimously adopted by the AFA Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council on January 15, 2003.
