MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A group of Northwest Airlines flight attendants will begin a campaign Monday to replace the Teamsters union with a new, independent union.þþThe Professional Flights Attendants Association would be headquartered in Minneapolis and be made up of Northwest flight attendants, said PFAA spokesman Gary Helton.þþ``The Teamsters may be a satisfactory labor union for truck drivers, but they do not understand flight attendant issues,'' Helton said.þþThe Teamsters could not immediately be reached for comment.þþIn order for PFAA to replace the Teamsters, 50 percent plus one additional flight attendant must sign and submit an authorization card requesting a union change. The National Mediation Board would then call for an election.þþNorthwest, the world's fourth largest carrier, has 11,000 flight attendants.þþ``We've got thousands of flight attendants who have expressed an interest in signing the cards,'' said Helton. Authorization cards have been mailed to all Northwest flight attendants.þþThe PFAA campaign comes when the Teamsters, which has represented Northwest flight attendants for 26 years, was set to increase union dues July 1. Helton said PFAA officers would be elected directly by Northwest flight attendants, making them accountable to their issues.þþ
Source: NY Times
