Association of Passenger Service Agents/CWA Local 6001
Association of Passenger Service Agents/CWA Local 6001
1001 W. Euless Blvd
Suite 204
Euless , TX 76040
ph: 817-868-9933
fax: 817-545-8733
cwa4aa
HOW DO WE GET TO A VOTE?
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.
What must be done to hold another union election and win collective bargaining rights?
We must continue building a structure at each location. Bulding a structure means having agents at each location, based on number of employees, who will talk to fellow agents, pass out and collect information, and determine if a majority at their location want or do not want a union. Once there is interest at your location we come and meet with you and devise a plan that would work best for your reservations office or airport location depending on how many employees are there.
Example: Right now we are collecting postcards that were included in our last newsletter to be able to update our list with correct addresses and email addresses. This ensures we have a way to keep people informed of what's going on with our union and to pass info along that pertains to having representation in our industry.
Once we have assesed the agent work force and are sure that a strong majority (Over 50%) want representation, we would then sign union representation cards and file for an election. Don't forget although 57% of the combined agent group signed cards the last time, 15% of those who signed cards didn't vote and we lost our election.
Without a structure in place it would be hard to offset the company's anti-union drive that they pay an outside union busting firm millions of dollars to run. Yes, most companies actually pay a third party to plan materials and a course of action to fight a union election to hopefully ensure that you don't have a voice on the job. This leaves the company with the power to arbitrarily make changes without having to consult with you as a group like they do with the Pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, and ramp workers.
The more agents we have helping a couple hours a month the more successful the campaign would be and the faster we could file for an election. Any union drive without a structure in place or without a sufficient number of employees included in the structure is sure to lose once an election is called. We only win union elections with a solid structure and inside employees working with us.
If you can help in the smallest way at your location contact us by clicking on the "contact us" tab at the top of the page. We will explain more in detail about how each agent can help us get to an election.
The Union Difference
Do you want to see some statistics on why you should have union representation? Click the link below.
Association of Passenger Service Agents/CWA Local 6001
1001 W. Euless Blvd
Suite 204
Euless , TX 76040
ph: 817-868-9933
fax: 817-545-8733
cwa4aa
