6.03.20 – Five Months Until Election 2020

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Five Months Until Election 2020

The November 2020 election is shaping up to be one of the most important in our lifetime, and it will have significant consequences for working Americans. We have watched COVID-19 wreak havoc on our nation. The virus has claimed countless lives and devastated the airline industry. On November 3rd, we must elect candidates who support Flight Attendants and who will work to protect our jobs and livelihoods.

The ballots which Union members cast in November will play a significant role and will affect all three branches of our federal government. The representatives we elect have the power to appoint individuals who make decisions that impact our lives daily. For example, the Secretary of Transportation will decide how long we must continue to wait for the implementation of our 10-hour minimum rest.

While the Presidential election may make the biggest headlines, issues such as unemployment insurance and accessibility to workers’ compensation are decided at the state level. These down-ballot races are equally important. Do you know who is on your ballot this November? Do you know where they stand on the issues that are important to you?

With the election just five months away from today, now is the time to confirm that you are still registered to vote. In some states, inactive voters have been purged from the voter rolls. Check, double-check, register, make your voting plan.

The nature of our job, whether it is a scheduled layover or an unexpected delay, may prevent us from voting in person on Election Day. We encourage APFA members to consider all of their options. Most states offer absentee ballots and in-person early voting. You can find more information about how to cast your ballot on the APFA Government Affairs webpage.

Resources for voters

With so much on the line, APFA members must turn out to the polls because the decisions that are made in Washington directly affect our profession, the strength of our Union, and the lives of hard-working Americans across the country. Who do you want representing you in Washington? Do they stand with working men and women?

In the United States, the right to vote has not always been a right for everyone. In fact after Reconstruction, people of color were systematically and often violently denied access to the ballot box. Labor Unions have historically been at the forefront of racial and gender equality movements and played a crucial role in advancing both the Voting Rights Act and Civil Rights Act in the 1960s. Today, it is clear that the battle for equality is far from over. It is paramount that all of us demand that our elected representatives denounce injustice and unite our nation.

Voting is your right, and your voice matters. There is so much at stake. Make it count!

In Unity,

Allie Malis
APFA Government Affairs Representative

Lori Glattly
APFA Government Affairs Representative

[email protected]