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Jul 24, 2012

Washington, D.C. – More than 120 members of Congress today told American Airlines that despite what wealthy senior executives may think, the company is not above following laws passed by the U.S. Congress.

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) released a letter signed by 121 members of Congress to American Airlines CEO Thomas Horton – who manages to take home millions in salary and bonuses while running a bankrupt airline – stating that American Airlines’ attempts to stop workers from exercising their democratic right to vote in a legal union election just won’t fly.

“Workers’ rights are an important achievement in our nation’s history. These laws must be upheld, and that’s all we are asking American Airlines to do,” said Congressman Michael Michaud (ME-2) “The federal requirements for a union election were met, and they should allow the workers to decide for themselves whether or not they join a union.”

Last month, 10,000 passenger service agents were set to vote on whether or not they want union representation in an election scheduled by the National Mediation Board and in accordance with the Railway Labor Act. American Airlines has used every tactic possible to stop workers from voting, even misrepresenting the intent of the Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act and the declared statements of Senators Reid, Rockefeller and Harkin.

American Airlines won a preliminary injunction in a Fort Worth, Tex., district court; the U.S. Department of Justice has appealed that decision and further appeals court proceedings are scheduled for October.

The letter states in part: “We are disappointed that you (American Airlines) sought a legal injunction instead of proceeding with the union election once the statutory requirements for holding that election were met by the Passenger Service Agents.”

Last December, the CWA, on behalf of agents, petitioned the NMB to set the election date. The FAA bill that passed in February 2012 included a provision that increased the threshold for holding a union election to 50% of employees showing interest in conducting a union election, an increase from the previously established 35% threshold for triggering an election.  American Airlines claims that the new, higher threshold should be applied retroactively, despite the statements by the Senate authors of those provisions.   

“We are confident that congressional intent on this issue is clear, despite the recent ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Terry Means,” the letter states.

This latest attempt by American Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy with $4 billion in the bank,   is just one of a series of actions to block agents’ right to a union representation vote, actions that have included refusing to provide mailing labels of employee addresses so they could be sent election cards.  In that case, CWA made its own labels which were accepted by the NMB.

The full text of the letter can be found here: http://cwafiles.org/national/News/Release/Am_Airlines_CWA_ltr_7_23_2012.pdf

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Contact: Candice Johnson or Chuck Porcari 202-434-1168 cjohnson@cwa-union.org and cporcari@cwa-union.org