Norwegian Air Permit Would Allow Offshoring US Airline Jobs

TAKE ACTION: Instruction below ↓

Airline workers across the United States are calling on Congress to stop Norwegian Air from being able to fly to the US using a “flag of convenience” scheme which allows it to shop the world for the cheapest labor to staff its flights. The issue is more about job security than it is about competition.

“I think lower fares are great, but when an airline is allowed to ignore US and European labor laws to hire the cheapest labor I know my days as a flight attendant are numbered since my company will do the same thing tomorrow.” — Delta flight attendant

Here are more details (Taken from AFA Newsletter):

Flood Congress with Calls! It’s About Our Jobs!

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Transportation wrongly approved a foreign air carrier permit for Norwegian Air International (NAI). The decision sets aside the labor protections that were central to the U.S.-EU Open Skies Agreement. We know. We were there! We had a seat at the table when this administration negotiated the Agreement, and now just like any labor contract, the administration needs to make good on this aviation trade deal. This is our about our jobs and our nation’s ability to move millions of people and connect with the rest of the world.

Norwegian can fly to the U.S. today. We are allies with the U.S.-based and Norwegian-based crews who fly today under U.S. and Norwegian labor law. But NAI, flagged in Ireland, sets up a ‘flag of convenience’ model in aviation—the same business model that destroyed U.S. shipping. NAI will use this ‘flag of convenience’ model to hire crews from countries with the lowest labor and safety standards, such as Malaysia or Thailand.

We will not accept this. We will act. We will never stop. We will never accept abrogation of our rights.

1. Call Congress Now

Every Flight Attendant needs to call every day this week!

Connect directly to your Senate offices: 1-855-980-2338

Connect directly to your Representative’s office: 1-855-980-2306

“Hello, my name is _________ and I am a constituent. I’m a Flight Attendant calling to urge my Representative/Senator to take action to STOP Norwegian Air International from flying to the U.S. under a completely new set of rules. The DOT NAI approval opens the door to a flag of convenience model that will lead to outsourcing 300,000 U.S. aviation jobs, just like it decimated the U.S. shipping industry. This is about good U.S. aviation jobs and enforcing our trade deals.”

2. Good Jobs Nation Rally in Washington, DC – Wednesday

#DenyNAI is all about making sure we are a Good Jobs Nation – show up in uniform with your union pin and RSVP at info@afacwa.org.

This Wednesday, December 7, Bernie Sanders, Keith Ellison and Danny Glover are coming to speak at a rally in D.C. held by Good Jobs Nation. We need to raise awareness on the dangers of NAI every way we can and this is the perfect opportunity.

TIME:
Wednesday, December 7, 2016 1000-1100 EST

LOCATION:
Freedom Plaza (Washington, DC)
13th St and Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20004