From www.unitedafa.org

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The National Mediation Board (NMB) today announced the voting schedule for a representation election for United, Continental and Continental Micronesia Flight Attendants. Balloting instructions will be sent to the over 24,000 Flight Attendants on May 17 and voting will close June 29, 2011.

With the NMB announcement establishing the representation vote timeline, we are one step closer to uniting Flight Attendants at United Airlines. This is a historic moment in our careers, the magnitude of which cannot be overstated. We face the most important decision we will ever make as United Flight Attendants, and the outcome will define our profession.

Sixty six years ago, AFA negotiated the very first Flight Attendant Contract. Since that time we have solidified and improved upon that Agreement and refined our careers. We have shaped our jobs into something recognized the world over as a profession we can be proud of.

From day one AFA has had but one single purpose: the advancement of the Flight Attendant profession. With AFA our interests are represented and protected. AFA has always worked tirelessly with every aspect that has an impact on our jobs. AFA works legislatively on Capital Hill, with the FAA, the TSA and all other related agencies of the government that relate to Flight Attendant issues. When necessary we seek judicial action through the courts, and most often we represent Flight Attendant interests with United management to enforce the strong language of our Contract. We have decades of experience and history from which to draw upon as a single craft Union of Flight Attendants representing Flight Attendants.

With the upcoming election we will bring together Flight Attendants from United, Continental and Continental Micronesia airlines into a single energized workforce. The election provides us with the opportunity to put the issue of representation behind us and move forward with the business of representing Flight Attendants. We should know, because that is all we do at AFA: Represent Flight Attendants. There is no conflict of interest and no organizational or institutional agenda that competes for our interest in this representation.

This election provides each of us the opportunity to vote for our future, to take pride in that future and to define how we will maximize the opportunities the merger offers to Flight Attendants. It is for this reason AFA sought this election through our petition in January; so we can move forward as quickly as possible to provide the greatest potential for gains to our Flight Attendant community.

What is on the line has never been more important; we encourage you to cast an informed vote that gives you a stake in your future and a representative that understands you and your issues. We encourage you to choose a Union that is democratic and Member – driven. We face unprecedented and extraordinary opportunity; AFA is excited and prepared to take full advantage of the merger. And, AFA is excited to welcome our newest Members and their ideas, opinions, beliefs and priorities and bring the harmony of creating something new and wonderful out of these proud individual groups of Flight Attendants.

This merger will impact and change almost every aspect of how we work. There will be new people, new planes, new Emergency Training, new Uniforms, new policies and procedures – and ultimately a new Contract. Our sixty six years of history has taught us that we must always listen to our Members, get their feedback and act on the collective priorities you identify as important. This will never be truer than when we combine our workforce and work together, collective and collaboratively towards a new Agreement that benefits all Flight Attendants at the new United Airlines. United is evolving, and AFA is excited to evolve along with it, insuring we actively participate in the process for the benefit of Flight Attendants.

This is an extraordinarily exciting time and we know Flight Attendants are eager and energized to work together as soon as possible. Through our Union, AFA we will usher in a new era and provide the opportunity for Flight Attendants to thrive and succeed together. Voting for AFA is a Strong Vote for Our Profession. Voting for AFA is a strong vote for our future. Together we can do better.

In Solidarity,

Greg Davidowitch, President
United Master Executive Council