Source: ourcontract.org

What better day than Labor Day to announce our next World-Wide Day of Action? Labor Day celebrates the strength and prosperity workers brought to our nation through our contributions on the job and the contracts we collectively bargained. There were no handouts. Workers formed unions and advanced our interests by taking action together. October 15th we will take action together again to support our negotiators and our position at the negotiating table.

Our airlines have recovered and are doing better than ever, but we have yet to feel it. It is past time for a fair contract that allows all of us to share the profits we help create.

Mediation directed by the National Mediation Board (NMB) will set a more defined process for negotiations and should curtail company shenanigans at the table. Our Joint Negotiating Committee is working hard to complete preparation required by the NMB along with honing strong, unified Flight Attendant positions to present at our mediation sessions. The JNC is also preparing a review of these positions for distribution to members.

The process under the Railway Labor Act will help, but what will make the real difference?

Us. We will make the difference. Our unity will make the difference at the negotiating table.

There is no time for nonsense. We support each other and the long-term success of our airline. This is our airline and we will participate in its success.

Management has attempted to belittle Flight Attendants by suggesting we don’t know our worth. They said we are just “parroting” the words of our negotiators. In less than 24 hours over 2000 of us found our way to the picket line to call them on it. We know our worth and we will stand up and say it. We all deserve industry-leading pay; we will stand up and say it. We all deserve affordable healthcare; we will stand up and say it. We all deserve job security; we will stand up and say it. We all deserve rest; we will stand up and say it. We all deserve protections for reserves; we will stand up and say it. We all deserve schedule flexibility; we will stand up and say it. We all deserve the ability to retire with security; we will stand up and say it. We all deserve hotel standards; we will stand up and say it. We all deserve profit sharing; we will stand up and say it.

We proudly parrot this: We expect an industry-leading contract and we are standing together to achieve it.

At no other time have we been better positioned to fight for an industry-leading contract. We will stand together for it October 15th. We will send our JNC into mediation with the full power of 25,000 Flight Attendants standing with them. We will welcome fellow Flight Attendants, passengers, other union members and supporters to join us too, but we will take responsibility for our future and commit to join the picket line October 15th for our biggest Day of Action yet.

Some of us will have to keep the airline running during this informational picket line and we will have a way for them to show support that day too. Demonstrate our unity every day and keep our red AFA pin visible. When our Local Council schedules additional local actions, show up and bring five friends with you.

WE are United! Our solidarity will determine our success. Happy Labor Day.