From a press release issued today...

Flight Attendants are Furious over Company Closing Paris Domicile While Denying Access to French Social Benefits

PARIS - Members of the Paris Local Council for the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO unanimously adopted a resolution today during a local meeting to direct their leaders to prepare for a strike. Under French law workers have a constitutional right to strike.  United Airlines recently announced closure of the Paris domicile effective May 1, 2006.  They are attempting to close the domicile in a way that purposely denies workers access to French social benefits such as unemployment, which is provided by the government.

"Since the closure announcement, United Airlines has failed to not only provide access to French benefits afforded other workers, this management has not even responded to our basic questions about the closure and forced transfer to work in other countries," said AFA Local President Sharon Benjamin-Caldwell.  "Flight Attendants are expected to make life-changing decisions in a vacuum.  United Airlines has not even given us the most basic information about employment and transfer terms.  Paris Flight Attendants are furious about this treatment from the company to which they have offered dedicated service for well over a decade."

"Our Paris based Members have every right to expect immediate action to address their concerns as a result of management's decision to close the Paris domicile," stated Greg Davidowitch, president of AFA at United Airlines.  "While management drags its heels, Flight Attendants must make decisions that include uprooting children from their schools and moving families to another country.  Making prudent business decisions must include consideration of the effect on employees."

More than 46,000 Flight Attendants, including the 258 Flight Attendants based in Paris for United Airlines, join together to form AFA, the world's largest Flight Attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000 member strong Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO.  Visit us at www.unitedafa.org.