Flight attendants at Illinois-based charter carrier, Ryan International Airlines, are preparing for a representational election. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), the world's largest flight attendant union, collected the required signature cards from among the Ryan International flight attendant work force and filed a petition on their behalf with the U.S. National Mediation Board (NMB) earlier this week. The NMB is the federal agency that oversees union representation elections in the airline industry.Once the NMB verifies that enough signed union representation cards have been collected by AFA-CWA, a secret ballot election will be called to determine who will represent Ryan flight attendants.
"This is exactly the right move by these flight attendants, at the right time," said AFA-CWA International President Patricia Friend. "Ryan flight attendants need the strength and support of a union experienced in representing flight attendants. AFA-CWA is that union," she added.
Ryan International provides aircraft charters to tour operators and sports teams, as well as to several U.S. government agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Justice, Energy, and Homeland Security. They also provide crewed aircraft to other airlines under so-called 'wet lease' contracts.
Best wishes to the flight attendants at Ryan International Airlines for success with their upcoming representational election.
