Association of Passenger Service Agents/CWA Local 6001

Answers to Your Questions About the APSA

Below are common questions that agents have about the APSA/CWA

Q. Why are we forming a organization before going for a union election at American Airlines?

A. Because, through APSA, we can broaden and deepen our leadership and support for union representation. It will give us a foundation and the formal structure that American Airlines' agents need to raise and address the issues that concern us, to communicate among ourselves, and to build the kind of support that we will need to win an a union representation election and collective bargaining rights. Once we have sufficient support and a structure in place, we can and will file for an election.

Q. Is APSA a substitute for our getting union representation?

A. No. APSA is not a substitute for getting collective bargaining rights. Winning an election and getting full collective bargaining rights continues to be our main goal and objective. But we must build our leadership network in order to win an election.

However, we don’t have to win a union representation election to form our own union. APSA is Local 6001 of the Communications Workers of America, and the members of the Association of Passenger Service Agents (APSA) have all of the rights and privileges that are now enjoyed by the more than 650,000 members of CWA.

Q. Does CWA understand airline employees' and their issues?

A. Yes. CWA will be a powerful voice for American Airlines' passenger service employees. The union is now one of the most dynamic unions in the airlines, representing over 50,000 airline employees at 27 airlines. These include agents at US Airways and America West, through the merger of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) into CWA, over 40,000 flight attendants at 26 airlines.

Q. How can we have a union before we win a union representation election?

A. There are many workers in the U.S. who are union members, but who do not have collective bargaining agreements. In the airlines and other private sector industries, workers need to win a union representation election to get collective bargaining and gain the right to bargain with their employer, but we do not have to win an election to form an organization or local union. Several other groups within CWA have formed organizations like ours. These include workers from General Electric, IBM, Microsoft, the Texas and Oklahoma state governments, and others who are building a stronger voice in their jobs.

Q. What would we be able to accomplish with APSA that we are not now doing with American Airlines’ Agent Advisory Boards?

A. First, APSA is completely independent of American Airlines. Agents join our organization voluntarily, and the issues that we address and the decisions that we make will be made entirely by us, the members of APSA — not by AMR management, which is the case with the Agent Advisory Board and Employee Advisory Committee. We can accomplish more by working together in our own organization.

American agents who have been fighting for union representation have illustrated what we can accomplish by working together. During our campaign, we were concerned about the growing numbers of assaults against agents and we wanted legal protections, just like flight attendants. By working with CWA, we were able to get legislation introduced and passed in Congress with the help of a Senator who supports our concerns. This happened because of our campaign, and the evidence we helped gather through “Airport Rage” surveys that we conducted.

We showed that we have been able to change AMR policies. After a hurricane passed through the Miami area in 2000, management required agents there to go to work even though the airport authority had closed the airport. Later, when the company allowed us to go home, it refused to pay for our wages for the day. Management relented and agreed to pay agents’ wages only after we banded together, jointly filing more than 200 grievances. These are just two examples of the kind of power we can wield if we join together in our own organization.

Q. What about dues? How much are they? Where will my money go?

A. The dues we collect belong to our Local and are managed by APSA members. Membership dues are based on an agent's income and job status. Full-time agents making more than $15 an hour pay $20 a month. Full-time agents making $15 an hour or less pay $15 a month. Part-time agents working 25 hours or less a week (or those who are furloughed or retired) pay $10 a month. All decisions about how and where our dues will be spent will be ours. There are no other “fees” to be a member of APSA/CWA.

Q. What is the structure of our organization and who will make the decisions?

A. APSA’s governing body is an elected executive board composed of officers and representatives from local membership chapters elected by the members.

Q. What are the benefits of being an APSA/CWA member?

A. APSA members have a full-range of benefits that belong to every other member of CWA. This includes electing our own representatives. Members receive representation, education and training on such things as handling and processing grievances, understanding our rights under the Family Medical Leave Act, and other issues, such as Workers’ Compensation as decided by members of our organization’s executive board. As a APSA/CWA member, we are also entitled to discount services and programs offered by “Union Privilege” (mortgage and real estate, loan program, credit card, legal services, life and auto insurance, health savings, etc.).

CWA members also get a special discounted wireless phone service (and a free phone) through Cingular Wireless. There is a CWA computer training and certification program. But the main benefit of CWA membership is the ability to have a voice on the job.

Q. What if I am furloughed?

A. If you sign up as a member of APSA and are then furloughed, you can continue to be a full member of our agents’ organization by changing your membership to “part-time”, which is $10 a month. You will still be entitled to all union benefits and have the ability to communicate with other agents nationwide.

Q. Is it legal for us to form the association?

A. Yes. We have constitutionally-protected right to form an organization, including a union, with our co-workers. It is illegal for an employer to prevent or discriminate against employees for forming unions or other associations.  If you feel threatened in any way for joining or participating in union activities at your workplace, or have been intimidated by your employer, or management, contact your Union steward or the Local 6001 office at 817-868-9933 immediately.  YOU HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT UNDER FEDERAL LAW TO ORAGNIZE A UNION AND TALK ABOUT IT IN NON-WORK AREAS AT NON-WORK TIMES, OR AT YOUR POSITION WITH NO CUSTOMERS IN FRONT OF YOU (AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T INTERFERE WITH YOUR JOB.)