US Airways Flight Attendants Continue To Push For Merger As Texas Withdraws From DOJ Lawsuit

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- US Airways Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), continue to advocate for the vast opportunities created by a US Airways/American Airlines merger as the Texas Attorney General formally withdrew from the Department of Justice lawsuit seeking to block what will become the world's largest airline. Roger Holmin, AFA President at US Airways, made the following statement:

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"Today's move by the Texas Attorney General recognizes what constituents in the state and across the nation have been saying: the US Airways/American merger is right for our country and it is right for US Airways and American Airlines workers.

"We are grateful for the support of Texas State Senator Wendy Davis who has continued to fight for Flight Attendants and other employees through this process. Additionally, we are thankful for the backing of several key members of the Texas congressional delegation as well as prominent mayors across the state of Texas for continuing to support a merger that provides the opportunity for good jobs.  

"A US Airways/American merger would simply put the new American on par with other airlines, creating real competition in the process and real opportunities for workers. Communities served by the merged airline will gain access to greater service across a massive network of routes. Without a strong competitor like the merged US Airways and American, current mega-carriers will only expand their market dominance.

"In this lawsuit, DOJ risks destroying the only merger that has a chance of competing against carriers large and small in order to protect consumers. AFA will continue to push back against any strategy that leaves our American and American Eagle colleagues in limbo, languishing in bankruptcy.

"This combination is the first merger that includes the key role of employees. It signals job security and contract improvement opportunities for the combined Flight Attendant workforce. This provides a positive outlook for airline workers for the first time in over a decade."

The Association of Flight Attendants is the world's largest Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for 68 years. Serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill, AFA has transformed the Flight Attendant profession by raising wages, benefits and working conditions. Nearly 60,000 Flight Attendants come together to form AFA, part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.

SOURCE Association of Flight Attendants