5.02.15b – (LAA/LUS) Gov’t Affairs Update, Seeking Volunteers, Open Skies, Human Trafficking

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May 2, 2015

 

LAA / LUS
APFA Government Affairs is seeking volunteers! – [email protected]
We have a great deal of work ahead of us in Washington and throughout the system. We need dedicated Flight Attendants that can help advocate on behalf of our workgroup. In addition to our campaign to enforce Open Skies agreements fairly, APFA is constantly working on issues that are important to Flight Attendants’ daily lives including: fatigue, cabin safety, and airport security. If you would like to get involved, please email Julie Frederick at [email protected].

LAA / LUS
Partnership for Open and Fair Skies – [email protected]
This week, over 250 members of Congress – both Democrats and Republicans – added their voice to the debate over Gulf states’ abuse of Open Skies agreements. The members sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx urging them to hold consultations with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The goal of these consultations will be to address the massive subsidies these countries have put into Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways which distort the international travel market and threaten American jobs. In a press conference on Capitol Hill  APFA National President Laura Glading said, “Employees have moved heaven and earth to get our airlines in a position to compete. Now… oil-rich governments are pulling the rug out from under us.” For more information, visit APFA.org or contact Julie Frederick, APFA Government Affairs representative.  

LAA / LUS
The Justice for Victims of Human Trafficking Act of 2015 – [email protected]
Last week the Senate passed S.178 “The Justice for Victims of Human Trafficking Act of 2015.”  The bill passed unanimously, 99-0, and now goes to the House for consideration.  Retired APFA member Nancy Rivard continues to work to educate airline employees and crew to identify victims of human trafficking.  The buying and selling of women, girls and boys is the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world, estimated at $150B.  Airports in the United States and abroad are major hubs of entry and exit for perpetrators.  Hundreds of thousands of victims are trafficked across international borders annually and in the United States, it is estimated that 100,000 domestic minors are forced into sexual slavery every year. APFA applauds Nancy for her continued fight to protect those most vulnerable in our society. 

For more information about Airline Ambassadors’ efforts, click here. To watch a video by AAI and human trafficking, click here.