The 50,000 Flight Attendants at 20 airlines represented by the Association of Flight Attendants–CWA, AFL-CIO (AFA), cheered the House of Representatives vote for the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (H.R. 4). The bill includes the union’s top safety priority for equal minimum rest with the flight deck, protections against eroding U.S. aviation jobs, and enhancements to the security of our aviation system.
“Congressional fatigue studies have concluded Flight Attendants don’t get enough rest in our safety sensitive work. AFA made 10 hours minimum rest free from duty – equal with the flight deck – our top safety priority in this bill. Today, the House voted for legislation that fixes this safety loophole of Flight Attendant fatigue. This is about safety, health, and equality,” stated AFA International President Sara Nelson.
“We applaud Chairman Shuster (R-PA), Ranking Member DeFazio (D-OR), Chairman LoBiondo (R-NJ), and Ranking Member Larsen (D-WA) for their leadership in shaping this bill that will improve our rest, tackle current aviation issues that matter to the traveling public, and maintain a strong U.S. aviation system with good jobs. We urge the Senate to act quickly to do the same,” Nelson concluded.
The bill includes these AFA safety priorities:
• 10-hours minimum rest and a FRMP for Flight Attendants
• Protecting U.S. aviation jobs by preventing approval of any new applications by airlines operating with a flags-of-convenience model
• Ban of Voice Calls on Planes
• Emotional Support and Service Animal Standards
• Cabin Cyber Security Vulnerabilities
• Secondary Cockpit Barriers
• Safe transport of lithium batteries
• Study on Cabin Evacuation Certification
• Requiring privacy for nursing in the airport
• Evaluation and update of emergency medical kit contents
• Required notification of Insecticide use
• Promoting Women in Aviation
• Banning electronic cigarette smoking on plane
• Training on Sexual Harassment and Assault
• Protect Customer Service agents from assaults
