Washington, D.C., December 21, 2011 – In an election prompted by the merger of ExpressJet Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) emerged as the clear winner in a contest to determine union representation rights for more than 2,160 Flight Attendants.
“Today’s victory is the result of an extraordinary campaign among Flight Attendants from both carriers,” said IAM General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. “Flight Attendants carefully compared their options, and chose the only union with a proven track record of industry-leading contracts that provide the higher wages, job security and scheduling flexibility that Flight Attendants need.”
The election, which was conducted by the National Mediation Board (NMB), was between the IAM, which represented 1,150 ExpressJet Flight Attendants, and the Association of Flight Attendants-Communications Workers of America (AFA-CWA), which represented 1,010 Flight Attendants at Atlantic Southeast Airlines.
According to the NMB, the IAM received 1,065 votes, while the AFA-CWA received 666 votes. There were 26 vote for “No Union.”
The Machinists Union has already begun the process of negotiating a single collective bargaining agreement for the combined Flight Attendant group. A bargaining priority survey was launched before voting even began, and the official solicitation of contract proposals will begin immediately.
The IAM is the largest airline union in the world. For more information about the IAM’s ExpressJet Flight Attendant campaign, visit www.IAMOneUnionOneVoice.org.
