In Denver and across U.S., flight attendants pushing airlines for progress in contract negotiations
The summer time journey season is shut on the horizon and there’s turbulence between flight attendants and a minimum of two of the airways in Denver, together with the airport’s largest service.
About 70 United Airways flight attendants staged informational picketing Thursday at Denver Worldwide Airport to focus consideration on what they are saying is an absence of progress in contract negotiations after almost three years. The airport was one in every of 18 throughout the nation the place flight attendants picketed.
“There actually is just not a lot motion regardless of file earnings and bonuses to worker executives,” mentioned Chris Bruton, president of the Native United Affiliation of Flight Attendants Council 9.
United is the dominant service at DIA, accounting for almost 50% of the airport’s passengers in February.
The union representing flight attendants at Denver-based Frontier Airways has notified the corporate of a serious dispute it has with the airline below the federal Railway Labor Act. The union despatched Frontier a letter April 3 that mentioned the corporate has made main working modifications that aren’t half of the present contract.
Underneath the modifications, which have dramatically affected staff, flight attendants are scheduled for extra one-day journeys reasonably than multi-day journeys, mentioned Chase Ilsley, the native government council vp representing Frontier flight attendants in Denver and Dallas.
“It’s taking place behind the scenes little by little, however Denver is getting hit the toughest,” Ilsley mentioned.
The Affiliation of Flight Attendants, or AFA, has mentioned the apply means staff must work extra and longer days to make the identical amount of cash. Ilsley mentioned many flight attendants commute to the Denver airport, some driving from as distant as Sterling or Canon Metropolis.
“It means extra bills, put on and tear in your automobile, gasoline,” Ilsley mentioned. “They’ll should get a crash pad or condominium right here in Denver.”
A number of flight attendants commute as a result of they will’t afford to reside in Denver, Ilsley mentioned.
Staff are additionally taking successful on their per diem bills as a result of they’re taxed for one-day journeys however not for multi-day journeys, the union mentioned.
To this point, the union hasn’t acquired a response from Frontier to its letter in regards to the operational change. Frontier has not been commenting on the AFA’s criticism, airline spokeswoman Jennifer F. de la Cruz mentioned in an e-mail.
Ilsley mentioned the union is about to begin contract negotiations with Frontier in Might.
The AFA has requested federal mediation in its contract negotiations with United. Bruton mentioned the union has made critical presents whereas the corporate has made “non-starter presents.” He mentioned one such proposal would improve the obligation day from 15 hours to 18 hours and scale back the quantity of relaxation at residence to 10 hours from 12.
“Since final month we’ve been assembly with the AFA and the federal mediator they requested as we proceed to work towards an industry-leading settlement for our flight attendants,” United mentioned in an announcement. “Our negotiations are persevering with this week and we have now extra dates scheduled later this month.”
Bruton mentioned unions are urging Congress to place strain on the Nationwide Mediation Board, which has to provide its approval earlier than unions can stage sure kinds of actions, similar to walkout strikes. The mediation board administers the Railway Labor Act, which is meant to resolve labor disputes that might probably disrupt interstate commerce.
“We’re attempting to use strain within the authorized ways in which we are able to, which is doing today of motion picketing occasions, any alternative to indicate the general public that that is affecting them,” Bruton mentioned.
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