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Nationwide Flight Attendant Walkout Threatened
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | Tuesday, November 16, 2004 | Dan Fitzpatrick

Posted on 11/16/2004 2:17:23 PM PST by West Coast Conservative

The national president of the flight attendants union is threatening a nationwide strike against all airlines if any labor contracts are abrogated by a bankruptcy judge.

Both United Airlines and US Airways have asked a U.S. Bankruptcy Court to impose a series of concessions if consensual cost-cutting deals can not be reached soon.

"Airline management needs to understand that there will be serious consequences if they persist in their attacks on our contracts," said Pat Friend, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, which represents attendants at 26 airlines, including United and US Airways. Leaders of the union are meeting in Pittsburgh.

All told, AFA represents seven bankrupt carriers.

"Our entire industry is in turmoil and the careers of our flight attendants all hang in the balance," Friend said. "Pensions, for which flight attendants have dedicated many years of hard work, are being wiped out with the sound of a judge's gavel. Health care coverage for employees in an essentially unhealthy work environment is reaching cost levels unaffordable to flight attendants who every year sacrifice more of their income to 'save the airline.' Almost everywhere we look, flight attendants are being forced to work longer hours with reduced rest time, and all for ever-decreasing wages. This must stop."

Despite today's strike threat, negotiations between US Airways and the union will continue, according to flight attendants representative Teddy Xidas in Pittsburgh. The company is seeking $150 million in concessions, including the termination of the union pension plan. The national union will trigger a strike only if the bankruptcy judge grants the company's request to throw out the flight attendants' contract, she said.

The judge will hear that request Dec. 2 and 3.

(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: afaidiots; airlines; attendant; strike; walkout
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1 posted on 11/16/2004 2:17:24 PM PST by West Coast Conservative
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To: West Coast Conservative
Does this mean there won't be anyone there to remind us how seatbelts work and to say "sorry, we're out of peanuts"?

Does anybody in our Solar System not understand seatbelts by now?

2 posted on 11/16/2004 2:18:40 PM PST by Hank Rearden (Never allow anyone who could only get a government job attempt to tell you how to run your life.)
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To: West Coast Conservative

Oh the HORROR......millions of travelers will have no way to get a pillow.


3 posted on 11/16/2004 2:19:44 PM PST by dennis1x
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To: dennis1x

So.......nobody will kick me out of first class?


4 posted on 11/16/2004 2:20:34 PM PST by Grig
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To: West Coast Conservative

Geeez...I wonder if that means the stewardesses will also go out on strike?


5 posted on 11/16/2004 2:21:09 PM PST by harpu
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To: West Coast Conservative

Yikes! The friendly skies aren't so friendly anymore.


6 posted on 11/16/2004 2:21:30 PM PST by Mears
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To: West Coast Conservative

They exist for our "safety". Can't we just get the air marshalls to serve beverages? /sarc


7 posted on 11/16/2004 2:21:46 PM PST by Nice50BMG (Bush won the Cold War against the 1960's hippies.)
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To: West Coast Conservative
When are these idiots going to understand that they are part of the reason the airlines are going bankrupt!?

More union rubes who are deceived into destroying their own careers. Sad.

8 posted on 11/16/2004 2:22:03 PM PST by TChris (You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means.)
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To: West Coast Conservative

Whoose gonnna b-b-bringg mee my DRINKK?!?


9 posted on 11/16/2004 2:22:19 PM PST by highnoon (You scratched my anchor!)
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To: West Coast Conservative; hchutch
The national president of the flight attendants union is threatening a nationwide strike against all airlines if any labor contracts are abrogated by a bankruptcy judge.

If I ran an airline that was being struck, I would immediately announce that the contract with the union was null and void due to union breach, give the strikers 24 hours to return to work, and then start hiring permanent replacements.

10 posted on 11/16/2004 2:22:19 PM PST by Poohbah (Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their women!)
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To: Hank Rearden

Buhh Buhy


11 posted on 11/16/2004 2:22:35 PM PST by Moleman
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To: dennis1x
When's the last time a seatcushion actually worked as a floatation device? When's the last time someone survived a water "landing" in a commercial airliner?

I suppose stewardesses have helped out in those few incidents when people survived a disaster but face it: most of us are gonna die if there's a serious problem.

Some of them are still pretty, though. And now and then, they do have some peanuts left. But, sadly, it's pretty much just a bus with wings and cramped seats.

12 posted on 11/16/2004 2:22:49 PM PST by Hank Rearden (Never allow anyone who could only get a government job attempt to tell you how to run your life.)
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To: West Coast Conservative

Oh, darn. I'll have to get my bottled water myself.

I flew this weekend and there was a Delta announcement in the terminal which said the flight to San Jose would not have any food and it was okay to bring your own drink and beverage aboard.


13 posted on 11/16/2004 2:24:09 PM PST by fritzz
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To: West Coast Conservative

If they do stike and win, I hope they have an employer to come back to. Very similar to the International Harvester incidents of the early 80's.


14 posted on 11/16/2004 2:25:03 PM PST by crazyhorse691 (We won. We don't need to be forgiving. Let the heads roll!!!!!!!!!)
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To: West Coast Conservative

With the level of service on flights today no one will even notice.


15 posted on 11/16/2004 2:25:10 PM PST by Natural Law
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To: West Coast Conservative

Well if they are going to walk out on the job that is their option. However, for their safety, I hope they don't walk out while an aircraft is in flight. The falling bodies would be a hazard.


16 posted on 11/16/2004 2:26:21 PM PST by Sola Veritas (Trying to speak truth - not always with the best grammar or spelling)
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To: fritzz

Should be 'bring your own food and beverage aboard'.


17 posted on 11/16/2004 2:26:37 PM PST by fritzz
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To: West Coast Conservative
At Delta, we are going without a raise for 5 years. Maybe we can replace these women with Hooters girls?
18 posted on 11/16/2004 2:28:32 PM PST by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: Poohbah
"...and then start hiring permanent replacements."

And please make them pretty and friendly and gracious and smiling. You know, like they used to be back when air travel was still enjoyable. (sigh Yes, yes, I know...I'm ageing myself...)

19 posted on 11/16/2004 2:29:16 PM PST by yankeedame ("Born with the gift of laughter & a sense that the world was mad.")
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To: Hank Rearden

I agree.

That means that the time I have to wait for a Coke or Pepsi will drop by at least 50%!

Start the strike now!


20 posted on 11/16/2004 2:29:24 PM PST by MplsSteve
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