World's Largest Flight Attendant Union Honors Women's Equality Day

WASHINGTON, Aug. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) celebrates the 95^th anniversary of the victory of the Women's Suffrage Movement, the ratification of the 19^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. AFA issued the following statement:

"The Women's Suffrage Movement was one of the most remarkable and successful nonviolent civil right efforts the world has ever seen. With little financial, legal or political power of their own, and working against a well-financed and entrenched opposition, women fought for their rights of citizenship. This massive, peaceful civil rights movement eventually culminated in women earning the right to vote with the passing of the 19^th amendment on August 26, 1920.

In 1971 at the behest of Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY), the U.S. Congress designated August 26^th as "Women's Equality Day." The observance of Women's Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19^th amendment, but also calls attention to women's continual efforts toward full equality. 

Throughout our history, Flight Attendants have taken the lead in the fight to end discriminatory policies and promote equality. Through the organization of our union, Flight Attendants successfully put an end to such inequitable policies including weight, age, gender, and sexual orientation qualifications.

Women working as Flight Attendants, and in thousands of other professions, face far less discrimination today because of the pioneering efforts of AFA and other unions.   

Today we honor the legacy of those who came before us and fought so diligently for the rights we enjoy. We also give thanks to all the individuals who presently work day in and day out to maintain our rights and promote the elevation of standards for all women."

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 70 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 50,000 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.

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SOURCE Association of Flight Attendants

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http://www.afacwa.org