Members of the Paris Local Council for the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO unanimously adopted a resolution to prepare for a strike.Under French law workers have a constitutional right to strike. 

United
Airlines recently announced closure of the Paris domicile effective May 1,
2006. 

They are attempting to close the domicile in a way that purposely
denies workers access to French social benefits such as unemployment, which is
provided by the government.

  “Since the closure announcement, United Airlines has failed to not only
provide access to French benefits afforded other workers, this management has
not even responded to our basic questions about the closure and forced
transfer to work in other countries,” said AFA Local President Sharon
Benjamin-Caldwell. 

“Flight Attendants are expected to make life-changing
decisions in a vacuum.  United Airlines has not even given us the most basic
information about employment and transfer terms.  Paris Flight Attendants are
furious about this treatment from the company to which they have offered
dedicated service for well over a decade.”

 
“Our Paris based Members have every right to expect immediate action to
address their concerns as a result of management’s decision to close the Paris
domicile,” stated Greg Davidowitch, president of AFA at United Airlines.

“While management drags its heels, Flight Attendants must make decisions that
include uprooting children from their schools and moving families to another
country.  Making prudent business decisions must include consideration of the
effect on employees.”

  More than 46,000 Flight Attendants, including the 258 Flight Attendants
based in Paris for United Airlines, join together to form AFA, the world’s
largest Flight Attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000 member strong
Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO.
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