Charleston’s Breeze Airways Flight Attendants Opt for Unionization for Strengthened Voice
Flight attendants affiliated with Breeze Airways in Charleston have voted in favor of unionization. This move was made to ensure that they have a more robust and well-protected voice in the operations of Breeze.
Flight Attendants’ Desperation for a Voice
Sara Nelson, the incumbent president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), postulated that the rapid organization and voting into unionizing narrates the flight attendants’ aspiration to retain a secure voice within Breeze Airways. According to Nelson, the recognition and acknowledgment of unions as vanguards of workers’ rights is increasingly gaining ground among workers across various industries.
Unionizationâ a Common Practice for Flight Attendants
Nelson highlighted that unionization is a common practice among flight attendants. Flight attendants, being primarily in the public sphere and often working unsupervised, frequently find solidarity and support within unions. The camaraderie between flight attendants and their crewmates, as well as their pilots, exemplifies this.
Government’s Stance on Unionization
While the state Government did not provide an immediate response to the recent unionization, South Carolina’s Governor, Henry McMaster, had previously expressed his strong views on unions. In his State of the State address, he fervently declared that his administration would vehemently fight against unionization.
CWA Local 3704’s View on Unionization
Despite the Governor’s stance, Bill Johnson, President of CWA Local 3704, underscored the importance of unions for workers’ rights. He stated that unions aim at establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships between employers and employees rather than usurping organizational control. According to Johnson, unions embody the unity and solidarity of employees and ensure fair treatment and representation of each member.
Anticipated Role of New Union in Breeze Airways
Nelson viewed the recent unionization as a chance for Breeze Airways’ flight attendants to challenge prejudiced anti-union rhetoric and promote the idea that unions act as a counterbalance to unchecked capitalism that exploits workers’ time and remuneration. As such, Nelson is hopeful that the Charleston’s Breeze Airways flight attendants will use their unionization as a platform to express their needs and rights more effectively.
