Flight Attendant Union Sues SkyWest for Illegal Termination and Fake Company Union
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA continues to support our organizing campaign and vigorously defend our Flight Attendants who’ve been illegally terminated by SkyWest management for their efforts to help us build our own Flight Attendant Union.
Today, AFA-CWA filed a lawsuit in Utah against SkyWest Airlines.
Here is the official press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2023
Flight Attendant Union Sues SkyWest for Illegal Termination and Fake Company Union
SALT LAKE CITY (October 11, 2023) — The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (AFA) today filed a federal lawsuit against SkyWest Airlines, the regional airline operating flights for Delta, Alaska, United, and American, for violations of the Railway Labor Act including illegal termination of union activists and unlawfully standing up a company union.
“This lawsuit is filed to remedy SkyWest Airlines’ extraordinary violations of the Railway Labor Act and interference with its Flight Attendants’ federal right to seek collective bargaining representation,” the complaint reads. “SkyWest unlawfully uses carrier funds to maintain and operate Defendant SkyWest Inflight Association, which it claims is the representative for its Flight Attendant employees. SIA has acknowledged in one of its Handbooks that ‘SkyWest … funds the SkyWest Inflight Association.’”
SkyWest Flight Attendants and AFA Activists Shane Price and Tresa Grange were illegally fired by the airline last month, as the Flight Attendants’ organizing campaign for AFA gained momentum. This illegal termination is in direct violation of the RLA, which the complaint outlines.
“In addition, SkyWest has violated, and continues to violate, this and related provisions of the RLA by terminating two flight attendants, Shane Price and Tresa Grange, in retaliation for their support of efforts to obtain a union representation election at SkyWest and to address voting irregularities with the SkyWest Inflight Association (“SIA”),” the complaint continues.
The lawsuit was filed today in U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, where the carrier is headquartered and the Flight Attendants live. Because the Railway Labor Act does not have “unfair labor practices,” commonly known as ULPs, under the National Labor Relations Act, enforcement of these violations rests with the federal courts - and the court of public opinion.
“This lawsuit seeks to rectify the harms caused by SkyWest and SIA; to restore Mr. Price and Ms. Grange to their employment; and to vindicate the legal rights of all SkyWest Flight Attendants under federal law to form a union without fear of retaliation,” the complaint concludes.
In spite of the unlawful termination of Mr. Price and Ms. Grange, SkyWest Flight Attendants are not deterred. Their campaign has gained momentum as management demonstrates the lengths they are willing to go to deny Flight Attendants their rights at work.
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The Association of Flight Attendants is the Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for over 78 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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Romero made history as the first Black SIA President, striving to improve the lives of SkyWest Flight Attendants. Unfortunately, his tenure was plagued by racism, and an alarming lack of support from management. Despite his best efforts to advocate for flight attendants, he was forced out by the SIA Board in coordination with management.