The final numbers are posted below the announcement.

N E W S  R E L E A S E
For immediate release January 31, 2012

Southwest and AirTran Flight Attendants
Approve Seniority Integration Agreements

Airline Acquisition Moves Ahead With Job Security for Employees and a Combined Workforce to be Represented by TWU

Dallas -- Flight attendants at Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways have voted to approve a new agreement that will allow the integration of seniority lists of the two workforces as Southwest moves ahead with its plans to merge AirTran into its operations.

A majority of employees in both work groups, voting separately, approved the agreement, in voting which concluded today.   Southwest flight attendants, represented by Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 556, approved the agreement with 66 percent voting in favor. AirTran flight attendants, represented by Council 57 of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), with 94 percent voting in favor.

“This is great news for our flight attendants at both airlines and for the passengers who will fly on the new expanded Southwest Airlines,” said Thom McDaniel, president of TWU Local 556. “At Southwest Airlines, we understand the value of working together and finding common solutions.  This agreement with AFA is a great example of continuing that tradition as we move forward for the continued success of our company and the culture that we’ve built at Southwest.”

“Our flight attendants are ready to put this important milestone behind us”, said Alison Head, president of AFA Council 57.  “Airline mergers are historically difficult, yet thousands of flight attendants at both airlines have once again shown that together we can continue to make history in this turbulent industry.  Through this vote, AirTran and Southwest flight attendants have stated they are ready to move forward toward one exciting future”.

Once Southwest fully absorbs AirTran, all flight attendants at the combined carrier will be represented by TWU Local 556.

AFA
Members that voted for the agreement: 1523 - 94.19%
Members that voted against the agreement: 94 - 5.81%

Total Votes: 1617 representing 81.9 percent of eligible voters.

TWU
Members that voted for the agreement: 4785 - 65.86%
Members that voted against the agreement: 2480 - 34.14%

Total Votes: 7265 representing 73.64 percent of eligible voters.

Thank You To Our SLI Lounge Educators
Posted January 31, 2012

The 55 Flight Attendants serving on the TWU Local 556 SLI Education Team for the benefit of our friends, coworkers, Union, and Company worked tirelessly over the past several weeks to make sure our Members cast their votes for the SLI tentative agreement based on the facts, and not on speculation or the ridiculous campaigns of misinformation so prevalent since the agreement was announced on December 26.

The members of the SLI Education Team were asked to be part of this group, because our Union leadership recognized that they had earned the respect of our fellow Flight Attendants as people whom they trusted to provide accurate information when they needed it most.

The SLI Education Team understood that one-on-one, face-to-face communication is the best way to educate our coworkers. These Flight Attendants were verbally abused throughout the month, berated, taunted, and chastised one minute, then hugged, patted on the back, and thanked the next. Everyday was a rollercoaster of emotions and passions, and the SLI Education “Dream Team” persevered with heroic effort for the benefit of the Flight Attendants of Southwest Airlines.

I thoroughly enjoyed working with each and every one of the 55 members of the SLI Education Team, and I’m proud of their willingness to put themselves out there, and for ensuring that our Members received the information they needed to make an educated, responsible vote. On behalf of each and every TWU Local 556 Member, thank you!

Cuyler Thompson
SLI Education Team Coordinator

EB 2012 Election Nominations Posted
Posted January 30, 2012

A complete listing of the nominees for the 2012 Executive Board Member Election are now available on the Board of Election page. Use the orange link on the right to view the list.

Absenteeism RBF Information
On September 30, Inflight Management released an RBF announcing that, in an effort to address perceived sick leave abuse, they will begin holding meetings with Flight Attendants to address patterns that may be of concern to Inflight Leaders. While Management has stated that the meetings are not intended to accuse or discipline, but to inform, please remember that you should take a Union representative to any mandatory meeting with Management.

If you are contacted for a meeting to address your attendance, please immediately contact your Union Office at 800-969-7932 to schedule Union representation.

Here's what our Contract says about mandatory meetings:

Article 19. 1. H. If a Flight Attendant is pulled from a Trip or Reserve Day to attend a mandatory meeting, the Flight Attendant will receive her/his Trip Pay or Reserve guarantee. A Flight Attendant who is required by the Company to attend a mandatory meeting on a day when she/he is scheduled off duty will be paid four (4.0) TFP. A Flight Attendant who is required by the Company to attend a mandatory meeting immediately preceding or immediately following a duty period will be paid one (1.0) TFP. Except as outlined in Paragraph C above, if a Flight Attendant is pulled for a mandatory meeting and the Company cancels the meeting the day prior, the Company Convenience Pull bar will be removed immediately to allow the Flight Attendant the ability to pickup and/or trade. Should the bar not be removed, the Flight Attendant will be paid four (4.0) TFP.

Article 27. 17. Management will inform Flight Attendants of their right to have a Union Representative present at any mandatory meeting.

TWU Local 556 Closes Facebook Group -
Opens New Page
The TWU 556 Facebook group was originally set up as a way to get information to our Membership in a timely way, but due to the constantly changing Facebook options, it was opened up for Membership postings and comments. Your Union leadership hoped this would encourage Membership discussion on important issues that affect us as Southwest Flight Attendants.

Sadly, it has turned into a page of backbiting and personal attacks, and most recently, several group Members forwarded postings from this group to Management, which has caused more than one Member to face discipline. This simply cannot happen on a Union site. Therefore, this Facebook group will be deleted on Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 1 p.m.

Your Union has created a new page (a format that is used by most businesses on Facebook) here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ TWU-Local-556/192737024112371. This page, which you must "Like" in order to receive updates in your newsfeed, will be informational only. No comments or Member posts will be allowed. Protecting all our Members' interests is, and will continue to be, TWU Local 556's number one priority.

Further comments or postings to the old Facebook group will be removed at the first available opportunity by the moderators. We hope you'll "Like" us on the new Facebook page.

Flight Attendant Assistance Program
We would like to ensure that our Members are aware of our Flight Attendant Assistance Program. If you or somebody you know is struggling with depression, or a drug or alcohol addiction, please contact us by clicking here. We will help you find the assistance you need. Your career, and your life, may depend on it.

Learn more about FAAP here.

Your Flight Attendant Union works for you.