Frontier Flight Attendants Ratify First Contract; Progress at Ryan, Omni

Frontier Airlines flight attendants represented by the AFA-CWA have ratified a first contract with strong job security language, a grievance procedure and other protections.

The nearly 1,000 flight attendants joined AFA-CWA last year. The agreement, amendable in 2016, contains a provision for an earlier re-opener. "Frontier flight attendants were very clear that any agreement must provide job security and protect our interests moving forward," AFA Frontier President Erika Schweitzer said. "This contract provides stability in what is a volatile industry."

In related news, flight attendants at two other airlines are working with AFA-CWA to advance and protect their careers.

At Ryan International, 200 AFA-CWA flight attendants have filed for mediation in an effort to move their contract negotiations forward. Bargaining at Ryan was brought to a standstill by management's demand that safety professionals be on duty for 20 hours and adhere to other onerous work rules.

At Omni Air International, more than 400 flight attendants have filed for a union representation election. Based in Tulsa, the airline operates international and domestic passenger charters and provides troop and cargo support for members of the U.S. armed forces.