4.01.13 – (LAA) – Press Release – AA Employee Union Endorses Markey

American Airlines Employee Union Endorses Markey

Flight Attendants Cite Leadership on Safety Issues

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:
Leslie Mayo, APFA Communications Coordinator
[email protected]
 
Giselle Barry, Ed Markey for US Senate
[email protected]
 
April 1, 2013 (Euless, TX) – In a unanimous vote, the Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) resolved to endorse Representative Ed Markey’s candidacy for US Senate.
 
“Congressman Markey is a great leader and a tremendous advocate for flight attendants everywhere,” said APFA President Laura Glading. “We deeply appreciate his commitment to keep the airplane cabin a safe environment for passengers and crew. Our members based at Logan and throughout the country will do everything we can to support Mr. Markey as he has supported us.”
 
On March 12, 2013, Rep. Markey introduced the “No Knives Act of 2013” (H.R. 1093) which seeks to address the Transportation Safety Administration’s dangerous new policy to allow knives and other items in aircraft cabins beginning on April 25, 2013. APFA and other members of the Coalition of Flight Attendant Unions, along with groups representing pilots, federal air marshals, and TSA officers, have strongly opposed the new policy.
 
“I am honored to have the endorsement of the APFA,” Rep. Markey said. “Flight attendants play a critical role securing our nation’s air travel system and it has been my privilege to stand with them over the years. We must all work together to keep our country safe and ensuring that airplane cabins are free from the threat of knives is an important part of that effort.”
 
APFA represents over 16,000 American Airlines flight attendants, 428 of whom are based at Boston Logan International Airport.
 
TSA first relaxed its post-9/11 rules prohibiting blades in airplane cabins in 2005. Then, too, Rep. Markey stood with flight attendants and introduced the “Leave All Blades Behind Act” to keep items like scissors, screwdrivers out of airplanes.
 
Mr. Markey is a Democrat currently representing the fifth Congressional district of Massachusetts. He is seeking his party’s nomination in a special election to fill the Senate seat vacated by Secretary of State John Kerry in late December.