Q: Other than the imminent HA merger, what opportunities worked for you that made it possible to firm up the TA now? How long are we able to use the HA acquisition as a leverage?
Flight Attendant actions – wearing the red lanyard, red pin, showing up at pickets, writing in to management, 99.5% strike vote – showed a powerful solidarity and strength of purpose that directly translated into leverage at the bargaining table. Additionally, we believe we had a credible strike threat. All those things, in addition to the merger timeline, combined to make this deal happen.
Once the merger is approved, our leverage of withholding our approval dissipates. Additionally, the management team with whom we negotiate will be involved in the integration and securing time with them will be difficult. AFA also represents the HA Flight Attendants and must represent their interests also.