AFA-CWA Mobilizes for Minimum Rest Requirements

Flight Attendants are continuing to mobilize for a 10-hour minimum rest requirement to be included in the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization.

At a Lobby Day in Washington, D.C., AFA-CWA Flight Attendants were joined by airline workers from the Air Line Pilots, Transport Workers, Association of Professional Flight Attendants, Machinists and others for a day of rallying and meetings with Members of Congress and staff.

Flight Attendants and supporters visited all 541 congressional offices and talked with their Senators and Representatives about the need for 10 hours minimum rest for Flight Attendants.

Current federal regulation rules provide Flight Attendants with only eight hours of “rest” after a 14-hour day. That window of time includes passenger deplaning, travel to and checking in at a hotel, preparing for the next day, travel back to the airport, transiting security, crew briefing and safety checks, passenger boarding and finally releasing the aircraft from the gate. This likely means workers only get four to five hours of sleep before another long day – if everything goes according to schedule. Pilots and other flight deck crew already have the 10-hour minimum rest period.

Both the House and Senate have marked up FAA reauthorization bills. After both houses pass the bills, a conference committee will work out differences between the two versions of the bill.  AFA-CWA Flight Attendants will continue to contact their Senators and Representatives to make certain that the 10-hour rest period is included.

AFA-CWA International President Sara Nelson said the 10 hours rest and flight fatigue management program is one of the union’s top legislative priorities this year.