Watch CBS News

Flight Attendants To 'OccuFLY' LAX Over Collective Bargaining 'Attack'

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — If you're heading to the airport on Monday afternoon, you could find your terminal "occupied".

KNX 1070's Chris Sedens reports a group of flight attendants held an "OccuFLY" protest at Los Angeles International Airport.

Podcast

Representatives from over 20 different airlines along with "concerned citizens from around the country" took part in a protest against what they said marks the latest attack on their collective bargaining rights.

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) alleges that lawmakers in Washington have partnered in a "secret deal" that would undermine workers' decisions on whether to have union representation by altering the Railway Act, one of the nation's oldest labor laws.

Veda Shook, president of AFA, used language similiar to recent Occupy demonstrations to call on Congress to back off from the legislation.

"This controversial labor provision is nothing less than an attack by the 1 percent against the 99 percent," Shook said. "We saw it in Wisconsin and Ohio, now we see it for airline and rail workers who are simply seeking the benefits of collective bargaining or fighting to hang on to collective bargaining rights."

The group claims that by establishing a mandatory 50 percent support rate among employees before any union representation election can be held, Congress will make it easier for employers to stall elections through "endless litigation".

Airlines already struggling with tumbling revenues and even bankruptcy have been forced to toughen their stance on contract negotiations with unions amid an uncertain economic outlook.

There were no reports on Monday of any passenger delays or other disruptions at the airport.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.