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What is this CWA Merger Vote?

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Source: Archived Content

Date: Nov 20, 2003

There has been a great deal of discussion and heated debate about something called the AFA-CWA Merger.  For those of you that are unfamiliar with what's been happening, here's a quick rundown:

  • What is CWA?
    The Communication Workers of America (CWA) is the largest communications and media union (700,000 members) in the United States.  They represent professionals in telecommunications, broadcasting, cable TV, journalism, publishing, electronics and general manufacturing, airline customer service, government service, health care, education and other fields.
     
  • AFA-CWA Merger Vote
    On October 30, 2003, the AFA Board of Directors (BOD), which consists of all of the Local Council Executive (LEC) Presidents from each of the carriers where flight attendants are represented by AFA, voted to endorse a merge with CWA and send the final decision to the AFA Membership for majority ratification.

Bottom line: We all vote on whether or not AFA should merge with CWA.

To someone outside the realm of AFA union volunteer work, this CWA merger issue is probably a non-event.  I mean, there's enough complication crapola with our jobs as it is.  Who has time to deal with the inner workings of Union politics anyway?

Nevertheless, this merger decision is far more than just politics and can have very important ramifications for future flight attendant representation.  All flight attendants (whether of the AFA or the FAIR or the WHOTHEHELLCARES persuasion) should at the very least set aside some time and review this important voting decision.

There is AFA-CWA merger information available online.  Here are some resources (both official and non-official) that I know of:

If you know of other online resources, feel free to send them to us for publishing.  I'm about one month behind in dealing with e-mail (no, I'm not kidding) so write something large in the subject line like 'HEY: IMPORTANT MERGER RESOURCE' to get my attention.

Like any other major vote, the parties from both sides would like you to understand their own position and vote accordingly.  Gotta love a democracy!

Nevertheless, we've said it before and we'll sure as heck say it again:  Do not let anyone tell you how to vote.  That is as annoying as it is insulting.  Be sure to read all the material carefully, talk to your flying partners, and make your own informed decision.

Whatever you decide, just don't forget to vote and blow the deadline:  Dec 1, 1200 Noon EST.

  • Voting Instructions

This is a huge decision for AFA members to make, and one that requires careful reading of the facts.  Go and review them.  Then go vote.

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