AFA Announces United Flight Attendants Elect Militant Leadership
Apr 4, 2008, 3:29 pm
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AFA Announces United Flight Attendants Elect Militant Leadership
Press Release Source: Association of Flight Attendants-CWA
AFA Announces United Flight Attendants Elect Militant Leadership
Friday April 4, 5:24 pm ET
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With an eye toward their critical upcoming contract negotiations, United Airlines flight attendant union leaders for the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) this week elected a slate of officers with a reputation as tough and militant negotiators. The 14 AFA-CWA Local Council Presidents who form the Union’s United Master Executive Council (MEC) re-elected Greg Davidowitch as President; Linda Farrow as Vice President; and, Jeff Heisey as Secretary-Treasurer. Their bios are below:
Greg Davidowitch, MEC President – Mr. Davidowitch, a hard-working AFA-CWA activist from New York, is embarking on his third full term as MEC President with the unanimous support of his peers. Davidowitch served as the United Flight Attendants’ representative on the Creditors Committee during the bankruptcy, and led the Union’s fight against the concessions management sought from Flight Attendants and retirees during negotiations under Section 1113 and 1114 of the Bankruptcy Code. Under his leadership AFA-CWA was consistently opposed management bonuses, executive compensation packages and other management excesses in bankruptcy. At the same time he led the Union in its fight against termination of the Flight Attendants’ pension. Under his leadership the Union held out to become the last among United’s unions to settle, seeking improved terms and ultimately achieving a replacement retirement plan valued at twice what management had offered after terminating their pension plan through the bankruptcy court.
Linda Farrow, MEC Vice-President – Ms. Farrow, a long-time Union leader from Los Angeles, has extensive experience in negotiations and led her Los Angeles local during the 1985 strike by United pilots, when the United Flight Attendants struck for 29 days in support of the pilots’ contract dispute. Ms. Farrow was also MEC President at the time of the announced merger between United and US Airways, leading the Union in threatening a CHAOS™ strike by United Flight Attendants if United management carried out plans to unilaterally change their collective bargaining agreement in order to effectuate the merger. That merger was soon called off due, in large part, to opposition from the Flight Attendants and other employees.
Jeff Heisey, MEC Secretary-Treasurer – Mr. Heisey, a Flight Attendant scheduling expert and union activist previously served as CHAOS Strike Co-Coordinator when the United Flight Attendants launched a strike threat in response to unilateral changes to their contract in bankruptcy. Mr. Heisey was instrumental in building a global network of Union members prepared to strike.
More than 55,000 Flight Attendants, including the 17,000 Flight Attendants at United, join together to form AFA, the world’s largest Flight Attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000 member strong Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.unitedafa.org.
Contact:
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA
Sara Nelson
847-292-7170 ext. 524
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Association of Flight Attendants-CWA
AFA Announces United Flight Attendants Elect Militant Leadership
Friday April 4, 5:24 pm ET
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With an eye toward their critical upcoming contract negotiations, United Airlines flight attendant union leaders for the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) this week elected a slate of officers with a reputation as tough and militant negotiators. The 14 AFA-CWA Local Council Presidents who form the Union’s United Master Executive Council (MEC) re-elected Greg Davidowitch as President; Linda Farrow as Vice President; and, Jeff Heisey as Secretary-Treasurer. Their bios are below:
Greg Davidowitch, MEC President – Mr. Davidowitch, a hard-working AFA-CWA activist from New York, is embarking on his third full term as MEC President with the unanimous support of his peers. Davidowitch served as the United Flight Attendants’ representative on the Creditors Committee during the bankruptcy, and led the Union’s fight against the concessions management sought from Flight Attendants and retirees during negotiations under Section 1113 and 1114 of the Bankruptcy Code. Under his leadership AFA-CWA was consistently opposed management bonuses, executive compensation packages and other management excesses in bankruptcy. At the same time he led the Union in its fight against termination of the Flight Attendants’ pension. Under his leadership the Union held out to become the last among United’s unions to settle, seeking improved terms and ultimately achieving a replacement retirement plan valued at twice what management had offered after terminating their pension plan through the bankruptcy court.
Linda Farrow, MEC Vice-President – Ms. Farrow, a long-time Union leader from Los Angeles, has extensive experience in negotiations and led her Los Angeles local during the 1985 strike by United pilots, when the United Flight Attendants struck for 29 days in support of the pilots’ contract dispute. Ms. Farrow was also MEC President at the time of the announced merger between United and US Airways, leading the Union in threatening a CHAOS™ strike by United Flight Attendants if United management carried out plans to unilaterally change their collective bargaining agreement in order to effectuate the merger. That merger was soon called off due, in large part, to opposition from the Flight Attendants and other employees.
Jeff Heisey, MEC Secretary-Treasurer – Mr. Heisey, a Flight Attendant scheduling expert and union activist previously served as CHAOS Strike Co-Coordinator when the United Flight Attendants launched a strike threat in response to unilateral changes to their contract in bankruptcy. Mr. Heisey was instrumental in building a global network of Union members prepared to strike.
More than 55,000 Flight Attendants, including the 17,000 Flight Attendants at United, join together to form AFA, the world’s largest Flight Attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000 member strong Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.unitedafa.org.
Contact:
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA
Sara Nelson
847-292-7170 ext. 524
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Association of Flight Attendants-CWA
Apr 4, 2008, 3:41 pm
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MILITANT? Yikes.
The first thought that popped into my head when I read the title of the press release was that it sounds like something straight out of The Onion.
The first thought that popped into my head when I read the title of the press release was that it sounds like something straight out of The Onion.
Apr 4, 2008, 3:48 pm
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Exactly how does one launch a strike threat?
Apr 4, 2008, 3:56 pm
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Send out some press releases, do some informational picketing, blah, blah, blah.
Looks like the AFA is about to dust off it's old playbook. I wish they would get a clue and try a new approach. Look where the old one has got them...
Gonna be a tough summer for us customers, I fear...
Looks like the AFA is about to dust off it's old playbook. I wish they would get a clue and try a new approach. Look where the old one has got them...
Gonna be a tough summer for us customers, I fear...
Apr 4, 2008, 3:57 pm
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Get as "militant" as you want, guys!
Oil is STILL $100 a barrel, the economy is in the dumper, and 2 airlines went out of business last week.
Good luck with your plans.
Oil is STILL $100 a barrel, the economy is in the dumper, and 2 airlines went out of business last week.
Good luck with your plans.
Apr 4, 2008, 4:01 pm
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I've never been pro-union and am not about to change.
However, to the extent the AFA has elected militant and combative leaders, UA management has only themselves to blame. I can't recall one substantive or even superficial bone thrown to the front line employees while at the same time, management has gorged themselves at the trough.
However, to the extent the AFA has elected militant and combative leaders, UA management has only themselves to blame. I can't recall one substantive or even superficial bone thrown to the front line employees while at the same time, management has gorged themselves at the trough.
Apr 4, 2008, 4:05 pm
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Maybe some of that should go to the employees.
Apr 4, 2008, 4:11 pm
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However, to the extent the AFA has elected militant and combative leaders, UA management has only themselves to blame. I can't recall one substantive or even superficial bone thrown to the front line employees while at the same time, management has gorged themselves at the trough.
It is like getting a bad waiter/ess at a restaurant. If you leave no tip you just look cheap, but if you leave a 1 cent tip, it is an insult to the server.
Apr 4, 2008, 4:13 pm
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Whenever I see the word militant I am reminded of the old lady in the Austin Power's movie from "The militant wing of the Salvation Army." LOL
Apr 4, 2008, 4:18 pm
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Apr 4, 2008, 6:09 pm
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Don't forget about the pilots too. Their contract comes up next year as well.
All of these people have been screwed royally, so as someone said, "payback is a b...."
All of these people have been screwed royally, so as someone said, "payback is a b...."
Apr 4, 2008, 6:13 pm
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.......Under his leadership AFA-CWA was consistently opposed management bonuses, executive compensation packages and other management excesses in bankruptcy. At the same time he led the Union in its fight against termination of the Flight Attendants’ pension. Under his leadership the Union held out to become the last among United’s unions to settle, seeking improved terms and ultimately achieving a replacement retirement plan valued at twice what management had offered after terminating their pension plan through the bankruptcy court.......
"Under his leadership".......blah,blah,blah.
Everything he fought in the above clip, he lost on. How is this some major accomplishment. We need people who fight and WIN! And as the 'replacement' retirement plan being 'twice' the value?......it was still a REPLACEMENT!
Let's get some real militants who LISTENS to what the MEMBERSHIP WANTS AND NEEDS.....and isn't afraid to BE militant!
Davidowich's militant nature goes far on paper.....but no accomplishment that I have seen. He's been an AFA-lifer far too long.....
Apr 4, 2008, 6:20 pm
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...and Tilton still makes $108,000/day and gives out dividends like crazy.
Maybe some of that should go to the employees.
Maybe some of that should go to the employees.
No, he doesn't.
That was based on last years options awarded (which were at a high due to chap 11 exit) and last years stock price, which was double. His salary is nowhere near that number. That number was based on current day value of UA stock options granted last year.
As for "militant AFA"... So what? Have you ever seen a union (or anyone for that matter) prior to new contract negotiations state "In the spirit of unity and to lessen our leverage at the bargaining table, we are electing a passive union leadership so if the company wants to lowball us at the table, we won't know any better"? That's like getting college cheerleaders that don't cheap "Go, Fight, Win!" but instead say "Try team, try."
Apr 4, 2008, 6:26 pm
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When I read that headline, the voice of the teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoon popped into my head. 
(In other words, "blah blah blah blah blah blah.")
(In other words, "blah blah blah blah blah blah.")
Apr 4, 2008, 6:33 pm
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I've never been pro-union and am not about to change.
However, to the extent the AFA has elected militant and combative leaders, UA management has only themselves to blame. I can't recall one substantive or even superficial bone thrown to the front line employees while at the same time, management has gorged themselves at the trough.
However, to the extent the AFA has elected militant and combative leaders, UA management has only themselves to blame. I can't recall one substantive or even superficial bone thrown to the front line employees while at the same time, management has gorged themselves at the trough.
Good luck to everyone this summer, I think we are going to need it.