Flight Attendant Leaders Push for Progress on FAA Reauthorization

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Flight attendant leaders from the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) met this week with the offices of several influential Senators to promote moving forward with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization bill. AFA-CWA International President Patricia Friend and APFA President Laura Glading encouraged the Senators to take action on the important legislation that includes many key provisions for flight attendants.

"We are thankful to Senators Harry Reid and Charles Schumer for their commitment to move this vital piece of legislation forward. Workplace safety and health protections for flight attendants have been ignored for far too long and we have worked tirelessly to ensure that crucial measures are included the current FAA Reauthorization bill," said Friend and Glading.

AFA-CWA and APFA are seeking follow up on the results of a FAA flight attendant fatigue study; OSHA workplace safety and health protections; cabin air quality provisions that would identify the equipment and technologies available to detect and filter highly toxic contaminants in the air supply; English language standards for flight attendants; and a "Return to the Cabin" program that will allow flight attendants an opportunity for rehabilitation after testing positive for drug or alcohol abuse.

Friend and Glading also visited with staff from Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Richard Durbin (D-IL).

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a similar version of the FAA Reauthorization in May 2009.  Once passed in the Senate, the FAA Reauthorization bill will be sent to a conference committee from the House and Senate to resolve the differences and negotiate a combined bill for a final vote.

APFA is the nation's largest independent Flight Attendant union representing nearly 18,000 American Airlines Flight Attendants. www.apfa.org

For over 60 years, the Association of Flight Attendants has been serving as the voice for flight attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill.  More than 50,000 flight attendants at 22 airlines come together to form AFA-CWA, the world's largest flight attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afanet.org.

SOURCE Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA)

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