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Flight Attendants at Mesa Air Group 

For Immediate Release: October 4, 2007
Contact: Corey Caldwell 202-434-0586

Mesa Airlines Management's Recent Turmoil Raises Concerns For Flight Attendants

Washington, DC - Reports of Mesa Airlines management's recent deceptions have Mesa flight attendants skeptical about management's commitment to improving the quality of life of their employees. Mesa flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), have been in negotiations for over a year regarding pay increases, quality of life adjustments, and many other improvements. Mesa flight attendants are among the lowest paid in the industry which has caused an exceptionally high turnover rate and has led to staffing shortages and operational problems for the airline.

"At this time, when we have so many serious issues to address, we need to know that management is committed to our negotiations and not distracted by their legal issues," said Brian Manning, Mesa AFA-CWA President. "Management thinks that we should sit across the table and accept a cost-neutral agreement, yet in the meantime they are sending tens of millions of dollars over to China to start a new airline. This investment in a new airline was made possible by the hard work of flight attendants and other employees."

Mesa recently announced that it would be partnering with Shenzhen Airlines to form a new airline based in China. Mesa will send 20 aircraft per year to Shenzhen, beginning immediately, until they have 200 - the same number the Phoenix-based carrier currently owns. Flight attendants at Mesa will not operate or work for the new airline.

"This has been the summer of discontentment for flight attendants," said Manning. "Management insists that there be no improvements in the flight attendant contract because improvements cost money. For years they have insisted that their employees take concessions as if the company is failing. But then they announce that they have formed a $65 million airline in China. The money that Mesa management has used to expand their airline, in ways that are not beneficial to flight attendants, comes from the pockets of their employees. It is time that this shameful practice stops."

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 55,000 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.


 

WHERE DO MY DUES GO??

As a flight attendant, you see a return on your dues in four distinct areas:

1. Locally and Carrier Wide
Your Local Officers and their designees produce newsletters, answer phone calls, deal with local company issues, represent our flight attendants in the event of discipline and enforce the contract, hold local union meetings and act as your representative with management.  They appoint committees to solve problems in areas such as safety, hotels, uniforms, professional standards, etc.  The role of your officers is to negotiate with management and develop and maintain the relationship between the airline and the union.

          2.  System Board

This formal hearing is the final stage for resolution of disputes with management, both discipline grievances and contractual interpretations.  AFA attorneys present our side to a neutral arbitrator for a final and binding decision.

3. Negotiations
Bargaining for pay and working conditions for the membership is AFA’s top priority.  We start with a survey schedule meetings with the company and caucuses for the committee.  Meeting rooms and trip drops for the committee over many months can sometimes be a costly endeavor. 

          4.  Internationally

AFA works on behalf of all its members to further our legislative goals.  AFA makes a contribution to the labor movement at large through our AFL-CIO affiliation.  AFA has departments dedicated to fighting for our rights with the FAA and other government agencies.  AFA staff does research on the carrier’s financial status as well as other airline contracts.  We have departments to produce Flightlog, deal with the media, train our elected and volunteer leaders, provide help for troubled flight attendants, and file lawsuits when necessary to protect our interests.

As a voting AFA member you can affect decisions regarding how your dues are spent by participating in local meeting, asking questions, and introducing your own ideas.  This is the democratic way!!

HOW MUCH WILL I PAY IN UNION DUES??

	1st month	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th...
Member	$10	$10	$10	$10	$10	$10	$39	$39
Non-Member	---	---	---	---	---	---	$39	$39