Redouble Efforts for Equal Access to FMLA
Co-Sponsors
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have tremendous power on Capitol Hill when we make our voices heard and hold our elected representatives accountable. During the 2006 mid-term elections we were successful in changing the make up of Congress and getting more friends of AFA Members elected to office. We cannot afford to become complacent now if we are to benefit from our hard work. If our friends are going to act in our best interest then they need to hear from us. Our power is in our numbers and when we each exercise our power by casting our votes, standing in solidarity or exercising our collective voices one after another, we can win every time.
Since 1993, the FMLA has benefited so many workers across the country it is only right that we have an equal opportunity to qualify for these benefits. Legislation is now in play in both houses of Congress that will clarify FMLA so that Flight Attendants and Pilots can qualify for the benefit under the law – just like a worker who clocks a typical 40 hour work week.
"We now have a co-sponsor list posted on our website. If you see your Representative on the co-sponsor list, take a moment to send a thank you note to reinforce your advocacy for Congress to adopt this legislation."
Action taken by AFA Members has built support for Representative Tim Bishop's "Airline Flight Crew Family and Medical Leave Act," H.R. 2744, since it was introduced in June. We now have over 100 cosponsors in the House. Last month Senator Clinton introduced companion legislation in the Senate, the "Airline Flight Crew Technical Corrections Act", S. 2059. To date, Senator Kennedy (D-MA) is the only a co-sponsor to the Senate-side legislation although many other Senators have indicated their interest in signing on to the bill if they hear from AFA Members, or family members of Flight Attendants in their state. It is clear that it will require the participation and persistence of every AFA Member to motivate lawmakers to clarify the law for Flight Attendants.
We now have a co-sponsor list posted on our website. If you see your Representative on the co-sponsor list, take a moment to send a thank you note to reinforce your advocacy for Congress to adopt this legislation. If your Representative is not listed, send another letter to her or him and call her or his office until they do sign on to the legislation. We will update the list every Friday.
Securing Flight Attendant access to the benefits of Family Medical Leave has long been a priority for AFA. Let's take this issue off the negotiating table and get the benefits Congress originally intended to provide for all workers.
The most powerful way to communicate with Congress is through a written and signed letter. Form letters are posted on our website. Print one letter for your Congressman and two letters for your Senators. Sign the letters, add your address and then take your letters to your AFA Local Council for delivery to Capitol Hill. Back up your letter with a call to your Senators and Representative's offices. Take action now and every day until Congress adopts this legislation as law.
In Solidarity,
Greg Davidowitch, President
United Master Executive Council
