COPE Newsletter – September 2021
TWU Local 556 Committee on Political Education (COPE) is chaired by the Local President, Lyn Montgomery, and Vice-Chaired by Baltimore Domicile Executive Member Damion West. COPE also brought on Maria Teresa Hank, Las Vegas Based Flight Attendant, as a Committee Member to assist with the Committee’s strategic plan. The Committee’s goal is to educate the TWU Local 556 on the importance of why our Local should be more engaged in the political process. COPE wants to emphasize that the goal of the Local is not to tell our members how to vote in the political process, rather the advancement of the labor movement, especially when it pertains to the aviation industry. We often hear from Members that we should not be involved in politics; it is important to note, the state and local governments run most airports we serve. Also, the Southwest Airlines airplanes we serve on as safety professionals every day cannot push back from the gate until we get permission from Air Traffic Control (ATC) which the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) governs.
All of our Members’ opinions matter, and although we all may not agree on every issue, what is important is maintaining a safe working environment free from toxic fumes, knives on planes, and air rage from disgruntled passengers. We accomplish this by mobilizing our Members to speak up and hold our elected officials accountable.
What COPE Does:
- Promotes legislation that advances the interests of TWU Members.
- Educates TWU Members on political issues impacting their lives and the lives of other working people.
- Provides TWU Members with an opportunity to support worker-friendly candidates who support TWU Members and working families. TWU International has established a Political Action Committee (PAC) that accepts voluntary contributions from TWU Members via payroll deduction.
What COPE Does Not Do:
- Tell anyone how to vote.
- Force TWU Members to contribute to the International PAC fund.
- Use dues money in the form of contributions to endorsed candidates.
- Make TWU Members participate in its programs in their local or their community.
Airline Crewmember Protection Act
TWU Local 556 COPE is working with TWU International on a Mobilization Campaign and Call of Action, “Assaults Won’t Fly.” We are also waiting on the Airline Crewmember Protection Act being introduced in the Senate by Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, language is being finalized by stakeholders. There will be an update as soon as the final language is completed and introduced.
California Meal and Rest Breaks
for Airline Employees and Flight Crew
- California meal and rest break requirements (Ca. Labor Code 512) require 10-minute rest breaks every four hours worked and an unpaid 30-minute meal period every 5 hours worked.
- A recent Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision (Bernstein v. Virgin) held that meal and rest breaks must apply to flight attendants and pilots based in California.
- Meal and rest requirements promote the State of California’s policy goals of protecting health and safety while preventing harms associated through overwork. These state-level meal and rest requirements have been in place for decades and have only recently been applied to flight crew.
- Most airline employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements and subject to the Railroad Labor Act (RLA). Most ground employees (ramp, customer service, catering & provisioning employees) have contractual language that addresses meal and rest breaks, while flight attendants and pilots generally do not.
- Aviation labor unions have a long history of working with airline management to jointly address concerns that could affect the industry. If airline management believes that a matter of public policy threatens the health of airlines in California or elsewhere, we expect our employers to come to us to negotiate a mutually agreeable solution.
- Airlines trying to address meal and rest periods through a budget process denies workers the opportunity for public debate on the merits of any proposal. Crewmembers’ meal and rest breaks have no nexus to the state budget and should not be considered through this process.
TWU Local 556 COPE strenuously objects to any process that undermines workers’ participation in discussions that impact our work rules, rates of pay, and health and safety while on the job. Addressing meal and rest periods through a budget process denies workers the opportunity for public debate on the merits of any proposal. Crew Member meal and rest breaks have no nexus to the state budget and should not be considered through this process. Essential airline workers have been on duty during the COVID-19 pandemic, often at great risk to their health and safety. Stripping these workers of their right to an adequate meal and rest break periods would be shameful.
Cannabidiol (CBD) Products
The TWU Local 556 COPE is looking into lobbying the Department of Transportation on changes to the current drug testing policy pertaining to products that contain CBD/THC. Southwest Airlines has a zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policy. If you test positive for marijuana (THC), you will be terminated regardless of whether marijuana use is legal in your state. It does not matter how or why you test positive. If you smoked or unknowingly consumed a marijuana edible, the result will be the same. The same holds true for a Flight Attendant who tests positive because of using products containing CBD.
Trace amounts of THC may be found in CBD products and may trigger a positive test result. The source of the THC or the fact that it was an ingredient of a product purchased legally will not change the test from positive to negative. Currently, the production of CBD products are unregulated; therefore, any claims that you will not test positive may be unfounded.
If you have any questions, please reach out to our Local FADAP Committee at FADAP@staging1.twu556.org or 214-640-4307. The FADAP Team is an excellent resource for all questions related to Flight Attendant Drug and Alcohol usage.
Do You Want to Be Involved?
The TWU Local 556 COPE is looking for members to represent the Local’s interest in the states where we have domiciles. Below are the organizations with whom TWU Local 556 is affiliated. The Committee is putting out this call for letters of interest to Members interested in advancing the political interest of TWU Local 556. As a guide, the letter of interest should consist of your state or organization you are interested in and a resume highlighting your skills and experience.
TWU International State Conference
- Arizona / Colorado / Nevada / New Mexico
- California
- District of Columbia / Maryland/Virginia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Pennsylvania
- Illinois / Indiana
- Texas / Oklahoma
- New York / New Jersey
- Ohio / Michigan
AFL-CIO & CLC Affiliates
- Arizona State AFL-CIO
- California Labor Federation
- Alameda County CLC
- Colorado State Labor AFL-CIO
- Chicago Federation of Labor
- Florida & Central Florida AFL-CIO
- Dallas Central Labor Council AFL-CIO
- Texas AFL-CIO
- Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation AFL-CIO
- Illinois State AFL-CIO
- Maryland State AFL-CIO
- Metropolitan Baltimore AFL-CIO
- Nevada State AFL-CIO
- Southern Nevada CNT’L Labor Council
- Atlanta North Georgia Labor Council
- Georgia State AFL-CIO
- Los Angeles City Federation of Labor AFL-CIO
Member Criteria
- Member in good standing
- Live in a state or city where the local AFL-CIO/State Conference is located
- Attend monthly meetings (in person or online)
- Submit written monthly report to COPE
- Willing to make connections locally on behalf of and in the advancement of TWU Local 556, the Aviation Industry and Labor Movement
- Willing to participate in the advancement that furthers the Labor
Movement / Expectations
- Treat everyone, including all TWU International and TWU Local 556 Members, leaders, and activists, as well as TWU Local 556 staff with professionalism
- Avoid all personal attacks
- Ensure your behavior does not cause offense or misunderstanding and be open to comments from others that you may have offended
- To accept responsibility for all forms of unacceptable and offensive behavior and for upholding personal dignity
- Constructively offer feedback
- Receive feedback and direction moving forward with the understanding that it is not a personal attack
If you have any questions regarding the submission of your Letter of Interest or to submit your Letters of interest send an email to COPE at COPE@staging1.twu556.org and will be accepted until Monday, October 18, 20201, noon CDT.
On Friday, August 13, 2021, TWU Local 556 COPE sponsored their first virtual town hall. Click the image below to watch a replay of the town hall.
