Association of Passenger Service Agents/CWA Local 6001

     The Anti-Union campaigns that the company ran during our last election convinced many of us that the union is just a 3rd party that we pay dues to and we let them do whatever it is they think we want.  This couldn't be further from the truth.  Currently as a union without collective bargaining we pay a minimal amount of dues, $10.00, $15.00, or $20.00 dollars a month based on our salary and full-time or part-time status, which goes to run our local.  We pay office expenses, and our Executive Board decides and votes on how to best spend our money to increase our membership, while working toward another election and collective bargaining.  We are members of the Communications Workers of America.  

     Once we get to an election and win collective bargaining rights, the process becomes even more democratic on a much larger scale.  After winning an election we will elect a bargaining committee consisting of representatives from different areas of the class and craft of eligible employees.  The bargaining committee will then survey all agents who have joined the union.  For example at US Airways the agents elected agents from different departments and areas within these departments.  Part-time and Full-time agents from reservations, part-time and full-time agents from airports and agents from different areas within each of these departments were needed to get a good sense of what agents wanted negotiated in their contract. 

     Once a tentative agreement is reached all members, from American Airlines, will vote and the contract will only be signed if a majority of agents vote for the contract.  If a contract is voted down, we go back to the negotiationg table until a majority vote to accept a tentative  agreement.  All members of the union are encouraged to participate because our union is run by our members, American Airlines agents, and is only as strong as it's members. 

     We are the officers and executive board, the bargaining and negotiating teams, and as members we will always have a say in how our union is run, and we will always vote on a contract before it is ever signed.  To find out how you can get your station more involved contact us at 817-868-9933 or by email at cwa4aa@sbcglobal.net for more information.