AirTran flight attendants will continue a “Six Cities in Six Weeks” series of public protests on Tuesday, March 1st Orlando. As frustrations escalate over management’s continued stalling of contract negotiations, AirTran Flight Attendants will continue the pickets across the country through April 1. AirTran flight attendants are fighting to get basic work, duty and rest provisions. If a tentative agreement is not reached by April 1, then picketing will continue in six additional cities.
The Six Cities in Six Weeks Picketing Tour kicked off at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on February 14. The next stop will be Orlando International Airport tomorrow, March 1.
The other picketing locations are:
- Wednesday, March 9 – Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Thursday, March 17 – Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
- Wednesday, March 23 – Orlando – AirTran Shareholders Meeting
- Friday, March 25 – General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
- Friday, April 1 – Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
AirTran flight attendants are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA).
Following the announcement of the acquisition by Southwest Airlines, AirTran management approached AFA requesting an abbreviated list of the Flight Attendants’ greatest concerns in order to expedite negotiations. When presented with the union’s “short list” proposal, company management responded with a minimal counterproposal that failed to address the most basic work, duty and rest provisions.  AFA rejected management’s proposal and filed for mediation services from the National Mediation Board the following day.
