Recent from talks
Association of Flight Attendants
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Association of Flight Attendants
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (commonly known as AFA) is a union representing flight attendants in the United States. As of January 2018, AFA represents 50,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines. Since 2004, AFA has been part of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), an affiliate of AFL–CIO. AFA is also an affiliate of the International Transport Workers' Federation.
Efforts to unionize flight attendants began prior to the 1940s but were often met with resistance, including intimidation and dismissals of organizers. In 1944, Ada Brown and four other flight attendants founded the Airline Stewardess Association (ALSA), later a precursor to the Association of Flight Attendants. Unlike earlier attempts, ALSA faced no opposition from United Airlines, which opted to work with the new union. ALSA was officially established on August 22, 1945.
The Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) played an early supportive role, providing information and materials to ALSA. However, tensions soon emerged between the two groups. ALPA had plans to unionize airline employees more broadly, and ALSA’s independent efforts were seen as a challenge to that goal. Negotiations between ALSA and United Airlines began in December 1945, with Ada Brown, Frances Hall, and Sally Thometz representing the union. The talks continued into 1946 and were financially supported by small individual donations. ALSA signed its first contract with United on April 25, 1946.
The contract introduced limits on working hours, capping flight time at 85 hours per month and 255 hours over three months. It also raised starting salaries from $125 to $155. Talks of union consolidation followed, and on December 2, 1949, ALSA merged with the Air Line Stewards and Stewardesses Association (ALSSA), an affiliate of ALPA. By 1951, ALSSA had grown to 3,300 members.
ALPA created two separate divisions in 1960, one for pilots, and one for stewards and stewardesses. Nearly half of the USA's 8,700 flight attendants were members of ALPA's S&S division at that time. Discussions about autonomy for the S & S division of the ALPA kicked up during the 1970s. A vote for autonomy was conducted in June 1973 however the necessary favorable votes (2/3rds) were not reached. A second vote was conducted in October 1973 and a similar outcome was reached. Later that year S & S Division formed the independent Association of Flight Attendants, leaving ALPA.
In 1973, ALSSA flight attendants chose self-determination and formed the independent Association of Flight Attendants, leaving ALPA.
In 1982, AFA had 22,000 members at 18 American airlines. In 1984, the AFL–CIO granted AFA a charter.
In 2004, after the September 11th attacks, the AFA merged with the Communication Workers of America.
Hub AI
Association of Flight Attendants AI simulator
(@Association of Flight Attendants_simulator)
Association of Flight Attendants
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (commonly known as AFA) is a union representing flight attendants in the United States. As of January 2018, AFA represents 50,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines. Since 2004, AFA has been part of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), an affiliate of AFL–CIO. AFA is also an affiliate of the International Transport Workers' Federation.
Efforts to unionize flight attendants began prior to the 1940s but were often met with resistance, including intimidation and dismissals of organizers. In 1944, Ada Brown and four other flight attendants founded the Airline Stewardess Association (ALSA), later a precursor to the Association of Flight Attendants. Unlike earlier attempts, ALSA faced no opposition from United Airlines, which opted to work with the new union. ALSA was officially established on August 22, 1945.
The Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) played an early supportive role, providing information and materials to ALSA. However, tensions soon emerged between the two groups. ALPA had plans to unionize airline employees more broadly, and ALSA’s independent efforts were seen as a challenge to that goal. Negotiations between ALSA and United Airlines began in December 1945, with Ada Brown, Frances Hall, and Sally Thometz representing the union. The talks continued into 1946 and were financially supported by small individual donations. ALSA signed its first contract with United on April 25, 1946.
The contract introduced limits on working hours, capping flight time at 85 hours per month and 255 hours over three months. It also raised starting salaries from $125 to $155. Talks of union consolidation followed, and on December 2, 1949, ALSA merged with the Air Line Stewards and Stewardesses Association (ALSSA), an affiliate of ALPA. By 1951, ALSSA had grown to 3,300 members.
ALPA created two separate divisions in 1960, one for pilots, and one for stewards and stewardesses. Nearly half of the USA's 8,700 flight attendants were members of ALPA's S&S division at that time. Discussions about autonomy for the S & S division of the ALPA kicked up during the 1970s. A vote for autonomy was conducted in June 1973 however the necessary favorable votes (2/3rds) were not reached. A second vote was conducted in October 1973 and a similar outcome was reached. Later that year S & S Division formed the independent Association of Flight Attendants, leaving ALPA.
In 1973, ALSSA flight attendants chose self-determination and formed the independent Association of Flight Attendants, leaving ALPA.
In 1982, AFA had 22,000 members at 18 American airlines. In 1984, the AFL–CIO granted AFA a charter.
In 2004, after the September 11th attacks, the AFA merged with the Communication Workers of America.