Sheryl Bachman started working for American Airlines in 1985, and ten years later, when her station shifted to American Eagle, Sheryl kept the uniform, the responsibilities, and the same hourly pay. Today Sheryl works for Envoy, with the same protocols as those of American Airlines agents—but her responsibilities have increased. In Wichita, Sheryl and her Envoy coworkers all have to be qualified to work the ticket counter, baggage, and ramp.

As you may have heard, Envoy management is taking the position that below the wing employees (Station Agents and Cabin Appearance Agents) at four stations are no longer eligible to be part of the CWA/agent bargaining unit. The stations are CLE, MEM, RSW and SMF. Agents at these stations continue to work on the ramp, aircraft and in the BSO, as they did at the time of the union organizing and election, but have lost the ticket counter and gate work. Envoy is using this change to try to narrow the union’s coverage to just the BSO staff at these four stations.

Our voice was heard! The Department of Justice and the Department of Transportation agree with our interpretation of the original intent of the statute regarding passenger rage in airports. CWA originally brought this issue to then Senator Kerry in 2002 with clear language that should have applied to all airport employees with security duties. The language was subsequently interpreted to only apply to law enforcement personnel and TSA employees.