Dear Delta Flight Attendants,
(from a concerned group of former Ozark, TWA, and current AA flight attendants)

As former members of the Association of Flight Attendants, we strongly encourage you to vote and elect AFA as your collective bargaining agent. The Association of Flight Attendants can and has consistently provided protections that other other unions or non-union groups cannot.

Many years ago, AFA represented the interests of our colleagues at Ozark Airlines. At that time, we were caught up in a merger with TWA led by notorious corporate raider Carl Icahn. We knew the expected challenges we would be facing and we knew the challenges our union brothers and sisters at TWA were facing as they were out on strike and continued to walk the picket line as the purchase agreement was being consummated.

AFA’s representation was absolutely crucial to our welfare during the TWA/Ozark merger process. The Ozark flight attendants virtually walked away from that merger unscathed with seniority intact and date of hire received.

However, it is a far different story for our TWA family.

When American Airlines purchased TWA in 2001, every single one of our colleagues (Ozark & TWA) was stripped of seniority and stapled to the bottom of the seniority list, our domiciles and satellites closed and the entire TWA Flight Attendant workforce was corralled behind a fence in STL. After 9/11, every single TWA attendant (some with as many as 40 years) was furloughed, many without furlough/severance pay for nearly five years. Others were not as fortunate; they were terminated as their five year recall rights expired.

As time went on, the writing was on the wall for those awaiting recall. Now finding ourselves at the forefront of battle and a grassroots campaign to extend the recall rights of our colleagues, we knew what had to be done. Ultimately, we landed on the door steps of many politicians, media venues and labor organizations, including that of AFA for support and for that we are ever so grateful.

Many of these middle-aged flight attendants lost a lifetime of building their career, seniority, pay and benefits; a travesty that could have been averted with AFA’s representation.

AFA was not our collective bargaining agent during the AA/TWA merger, as they were during the “fair and equitable” TWA/OZARK merger. AFA was the first of many labor organizations that gave us support and encouragement when we so desperately needed to extend our recall rights to preserve our careers. AFA exemplifies the spirit of “true unionism”.

Today, thanks to the assistance of many Senators, several labor unions and AFA, our ex-TWA colleagues now have a two year extension and some have even been recalled.

Just as in those days, airline consolidation is again on the horizon. Don’t allow yourselves to be sitting ducks for corporate America, OPEC, or terrorism. The ability to preserve and protect our career, seniority and benefits is with a strong, solid and experienced union with a winning track record. AFA continues to prove its strength and integrity when it counts most. Take it from an ex-TWA Flight Attendant, we know, we have been on the losing end.