Former TWA, Now AA, Flight Attendants Angry With US Senator

An article in the Capitol Hill/DC focused newspaper The Hill this morning shows that former TWA flight attendants that work for American Airlines are angry over the proposed merger with US Airways and they are more specifically angry with Senator. Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) who they though would protect them in the merger.

The fight started in 2001 when TWA merged with AA and the flight attendants were dropped to the bottom of the seniority ladder, despite their previous status with TWA. Sen. McCaskill promised to help the flight attendants resolve the seniority issue before the merger with US Airways so the flight attendants wouldn't drop even lower on the chain once a new crop of flight attendants moved into the system. But after a disagreement with the Senator and “In light of persistent misrepresentations, alongside conduct that has been consistently unprofessional, inappropriate and hostile — including appalling behavior by several who claim to be leaders among the former TWA flight attendants and their consultant — the senator will not engage in this intra-union dispute nor continue discussions regarding the issue,” a spokesman for McCaskill wrote in an email that was provided to The Hill by the former TWA employees. (Quote via The Hill). The fallout means that the flight attendants are looking for another Congressional partner to help them resolve their issue.

Until then they stay at the bottom of the seniority chain and get stuck with less than ideal routes that often take them far from their homes and families. If/when the US/AA merger happens it will be interesting to see how they deal with the pilots and flight attendants from previous mergers and try to make one big former airline family or if the same problems will continue to plague AA.