Flight Attendants at New United Vote AFA-CWA

AFA-CWA Flight Attendants at the new United Airlines celebrate with AFA's international officers after successful union election vote.

In the nation's largest union election in years, Flight Attendants at New United voted this week for representation with the AFA-CWA.

The National Mediation Board election covers nearly 25,000 air safety professionals at the merged airlines, joining 9,000 Continental and Continental Micronesia Flight Attendants formerly represented by the Machinists (IAM), and 16,000 AFA-CWA members from United.

AFA International President Veda Shook said the election allows the Flight Attendants to unite together under a single contract and become full participants in the benefits of the merger. "United Airlines' Flight Attendants built our profession starting with the first union contract 65 years ago and they will once again lead the industry," she said.

Greg Davidowitch, AFA MEC president at United Airlines, said the workers "will negotiate for the priorities set by today's Flight Attendants as we maximize our leverage to set the highest standards at the world's leading airline."

AFA International Vice President Sara Nelson said the election "showcased how Flight Attendants maintain and advance our profession through activism in our union. Together we are the strong voice for our profession."

CWA President Larry Cohen praised Flight Attendants and other CWA activists for making the campaign a success. "All of us in CWA are proud of the work done by thousands of Flight Attendant mobilizers and other CWA sisters and brothers who worked tirelessly to build unity at this difficult and critical time," he said. "Now we must focus on collective bargaining and helping Flight Attendants fight for a contract that moves toward restoring the living standards that were ripped away in bankruptcy. United is strong, and Flight Attendants and other workers need to share in that success."

With more than 88 percent of eligible Flight Attendants voting, AFA received 55.1 percent of the votes cast. The final tally was 11,943 votes for AFA and 9,745 for IAM.