10.30.08 – (LAA) – President Laura Glading Asks Membership for Support of Union Leaders, Negotiators, and Fellow FAs

Special Address to the Membership – 10.30.08

This is APFA President Laura Glading.

Last week, October 21st through the 23rd, the APFA Board of Directors met at the Fall 2008 Convention to conduct two days of meetings followed by a full day of training. The four National Officers and the 18 voting members of the Board of Directors accomplished a great deal of work during the three days.

I could not be more proud to be a part of such a dedicated group of Union leaders who continue to face head-on the challenges that lie ahead for our Organization and for our Flight Attendants.

Your elected representatives have taken decisive action, with unity of purpose, in a pledge to fight for the APFA membership to achieve the contract we so rightfully deserve and need. May 1, 2009, the one-year anniversary of the amendable date of our agreement, is our target for presenting to the APFA members a contract they can ratify with pride.

Achieving this goal is paramount. But the Board cannot act alone. The solidarity shown by your elected representatives must be matched by solidarity among our ranks. This is your contract, your negotiations, your future. It is essential that you participate in this process.

Your APFA leadership needs the support of every member as we join to confront an American Airlines management set on keeping us working under substandard wages and inadequate and inflexible scheduling rules.

We can win the contract we deserve and restore the pride of our profession by working together, in unity, toward this common goal. We must accept nothing less from our employer and we must accept nothing less from ourselves.

I am asking you, the APFA membership, to join and support your elected union leaders, your negotiators and your fellow Flight Attendants in a continued show of solidarity. We have fought this battle before, many times. We are through sacrificing and are ready to collect our just rewards.

During the Board meeting, one of the most daunting tasks undertaken was the review of our Union’s financial state and a frank discussion of the various steps we must take to ensure we have the resources needed to both fund our negotiations and the member services you rely on.

You will each be receiving a letter from the APFA Board with an appeal for solidarity in this fight. I encourage all APFA members to maintain the hope and spirit that defines us as a Union.

Thank you.