February 25, 1999
ALPA, Intl
Committees
PHOENIX — To help businesses and passengers prepare for
the possibility of a March 19 strike, America West flight attendants are calling, writing
to and meeting with Arizona Valley businesses and travel agents offering to give
“Priority Notification” of the latest developments of CHAOS activities.
A copy of the letter that is being sent to businesses and
travel agents follows. Flight attendants will also be meeting with representatives of
American Express Travel and Arizona Public Service at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday as part of the
notification effort.
“Our fight is with America West, not our passengers,”
said William McGlashen, president of AFA Council 66. “While we realize passengers will be
inconvenienced when we strike after March 19, we want to do everything we can to help
passengers make alternative plans.”
The flight attendants, members of the Association of Flight
Attendants, AFL-CIO, have been negotiating for a first contract for four years. After
exhausting all other options, America West flight attendants are threatening CHAOS strike
actions at America West, which can legally begin March 19 at 10:01 p.m. MST.
Earlier this month the National Mediation Board determined
that contract talks between America West and its flight attendants, members of the
Association of Flight Attendants, AFL-CIO, were at an impasse and started the clock on the
30-day cooling-off period mandated by the Railway Labor Act, the law that governs airline
labor negotiations and disputes. The 30-day period expires March 19 at 10:01 p.m. MST.
During the 30-day period, the NMB will make another attempt
to resolve the dispute in so-called “super mediation.” At the end of the 30-day period,
if no agreement has been reached, the parties are free to engage in self-help. For AFA
flight attendants, that means CHAOS.
CHAOS — Create Havoc Around Our System — is a strike
action that may take many forms. It may mean a mass walkout for a day or a week at a time,
with no advance notice. Or, as the union did with much success at Alaska Airlines in 1993,
flight attendants may walk off individual flights, at random and with no warning. Airline
management will be left scrambling to quell the concerns of stranded passengers, not
knowing where or when the union will strike next. After March 19, America West management
has threatened to shut the airline down completely.
AFA is the world’s largest flight attendant union, with
44,000 members at 23 airlines, including approximately 2,300 members at America West.
Visit AFA’s Web site at www.afanet.org.
America West Flight Attendants sent the following letter
dated Feb. 25, 1999:
As I’m sure you’ve heard and read in the media, if a
contract agreement is not reached, America West is forced with CHAOS(TM) strike actions by
its flight attendants beginning March 20.
This letter is intended to assist Valley businesses,
business leaders and travel agents in making your travel plans accordingly, after March
20.
It is impossible to predict whether America West management
will do what’s best for its employees and passengers and offer a fair contract prior to
March 20. If a fair contract offer is not put forth, we will begin CHAOS strike
activities.
As the person who makes the decisions regarding travel
plans for your company, or a number of businesses, we will make every effort to keep you
informed as the 30-day countdown to a strike continues. We have added you to our
“Priority Notification” list which means you will receive breaking news, as we announce
it.
CHAOS — Create Havoc Around Our System(TM) — is a strike
action that may take many forms. It may call for a mass walkout for a day or a week at a
time — with no advance notice. Or, as the union did with much success at Alaska Airlines,
flight attendants may walk off individual flights, at random and with no warning. After
March 20, America West management has even threatened to shut the airline down completely.
In making travel arrangements after March 20, it may be
best to authorize your employees to book on other airlines until this dispute is settled.
Booking on America West after March 20 may mean that an important business meeting in
another city is missed, or returning from a trip is complicated.
We’ve worked for four years to get America West to offer us
a fair contract. But the company has been unresponsive. And, unfortunately, we have been
forced to use the threat of a strike — and possibly engage in strike actions after March
20 — in an attempt to put pressure on America West management to offer a fair contract.
We will keep you informed as the strike deadline
approaches. We have enclosed a fact sheet that lays out the important details of our
dispute, and what travelers need to know concerning possible strike activities. Please
don’t hesitate to call our Union office, 602-966-1231, if you have any questions or would
like more information.
SOURCE: Association of Flight Attendants,
AFL-CIO
Company Press Release
| America West Flight Attendants Offer Arizona Valley Businesses & Travel Agencies ‘Priority Notification’ of CHAOS(TM) Strike Activities |
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