Concerned that their voice has been diminished, some United Airlines flight attendants began collecting signatures on Monday to replace their union.þþIf the newly formed United Flight Attendant Union succeeds, it would be the second time during the airline's bankruptcy that thousands of workers have switched unions.þþLast year, more than 8,000 mechanics and related United workers left the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers to become members of the growing Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association.þþThe upstart United-only flight attendants' union is working with the McCormick Advisory Group, which also advises AMFA.þþUnited employs about 20,000 active and furloughed attendants in the United States.þþFor the National Mediation Board to order an election, the new union must receive signed authorization cards from 50 percent plus one of those workers, according to a spokesman for the new union.þþThe current union, the Association of Flight Attendants, represents 26,000 active, furloughed and retired United flight attendants worldwide. It is the AFA's largest employee group.þþIt is unusual for workers to switch unions while their company is in bankruptcy, said Douglas Baird, a bankruptcy law professor at the University of Chicago Law School.þþÿThe environment is ripe for a forest fire,ÿ Baird said. But, ÿin bankruptcy, people usually understand you have to work through the financial crisis before you worry about all the other stuff.ÿþþPeople spearheading the new union effort are upset by the recent merger of the AFA with the Communication Workers of America.þþUnited flight attendants voted against the merger, which was passed by the majority of members at the 26 airlines that the AFA represents.þþThe new union also opposes the AFA's continued efforts to organize flight attendants at Delta Air Lines.þþÿA lot of us feel that we're nothing but dues money to the union,ÿ said Eric Julien, a United attendant for 18 years and spokesman for the new union.þþThe new flight attendants union attempted to gain workers' support before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 but gave up after the attacks and has reorganized in recent months.þþGreg Davidowitch, president of United's AFA unit and a 16-year flight attendant with the airline, said, ÿI don't believe the timing of this is coincidental.ÿþþThe new union's earlier efforts began in mid-2000, a period of strife between United labor and management. The latest effort comes after employees were forced to make concessions during bankruptcy negotiations.þþDavidowitch said the bankruptcy and concessions have created uncertainty for employees, and the number of workers needing help from the union is ÿunprecedented.ÿþþÿWe do a good job, and I think we can do a better job,ÿ he said.þþÿAnybody who is truly interested in making things better for United flight attendants would get involved with the union instead of trying to tear it down,ÿ he said.þ
Source: Chicago Tribune
