Here’s the Truth about Signing a Card to Decertify AFA

The Center for Independent Employees (going by “Avelo4Us”), a union-busting group, has been approaching Flight Attendants to sign authorization cards to decertify our union, AFA, as your collective bargaining representative.  We have heard complaints from Flight Attendants that they were asked to sign these cards without understanding what they were signing, and some Flight Attendants want to revoke what they signed. 

Our union, AFA, is the Flight Attendant Union organized by Flight Attendants for Flight Attendants. AFA represents 50,000 Flight Attendants at 19 airlines, serving as a voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill. Simply put, the goal of Flight Attendants who become part of AFA is to negotiate better pay, benefits, working conditions and work rules at their airline, to improve their safety on the job, and advance the profession.

We, Avelo AFA, are in the middle of negotiating OUR contract that will improve our lives and get us better pay and benefits! As you know, Avelo management has been dragging their feet on agreeing to make improvements. We are in federal mediation with the assistance of a neutral third-party professional to move our negotiations along so we can get this done! Once our contract is negotiated and approved by Avelo AFA Flight Attendants, our terms and conditions of employment cannot be changed unless management negotiates with us first!

By trying to get Flight Attendants to sign these cards, CIE is essentially trying to stop our success and progress at the negotiating table. If enough cards (at least 50% of Flight Attendants) are collected and are accepted as eligible voters by the National Mediation Board (NMB), there will be an election to vote for keeping our current AFA representation or to get rid of our union. 

It’s important to understand that the eligible voters wouldn’t necessarily be every Avelo flight attendant who is employed on the date of the election. This is because the NMB rules only allow Flight Attendants who were employed as of the last day of the most recent payroll period before the application for an election is filed to participate in the election. Just like the election that led to our AFA representation, if the airline hires Flight Attendants after the last day of the last payroll period before the application for election, there will be Flight Attendants who are unable to vote. 

How to Revoke your Authorization to Decertify AFA Card

We’ve been getting a lot of questions about whether and how to revoke your authorization to decertify AFA card. The answer is—you can! You have the right to revoke your authorization to decertify AFA at any time. If you choose to do so, here is some guidance:

• Write OR email CIE/Avelo4Us using the following address:

Avelo4Us!
P.O. Box 372636
Satellite Beach, FL

• Tell CIE/Avelo4Us that you want to revoke your authorization card to decertify AFA and ask them to return the original to you (you will need to provide your mailing address for this), or alternatively ask them to provide you with an assurance that it was destroyed; and
• Print your name and sign your letter (if you are emailing your letter, scan it or take a picture of it and send it to yourself so that your signature is included)

We don’t want to spend our timing going backwards on the progress we’ve made. Wear your AFA pin! We’re ready to get the contract we deserve.