United TA Vote: Democracy in Action

Ratification votes are a clear example of how real union democracy works. Union Flight Attendants have the ultimate decision and control on their pay, benefits, and work rules. Flight Attendants have the right to review any tentative agreement, ask questions, and make their own call based on what mattered to them. And when a majority says we’re standing together to fight for something else it isn’t a failure—it’s a strength of democracy in action and a clear reminder that the union is in the hands of the workers who make it up. 

The decision to go back to the negotiations table is a powerful affirmation of what it means to have a voice, and why that same voice is exactly what we’re building here at SkyWest with AFA.

This is how the Flight Attendant career has moved forward—contract by contract.

Every meaningful improvement in this job—better pay, stronger schedules, real retirement security, and life-saving safety standards—has come through collective bargaining. Contract by contract, vote by vote, AFA Flight Attendants have raised the bar. The process works because Flight Attendants stand together to demand better—and the entire industry takes notice.

Democracy is not always easy, but it is the best process for respecting all voices, considering all solutions, and moving forward together. There are hard choices and moments when patience wears thin. But the alternative? Letting SkyWest management decide what and when we get things—without a real vote, without power, and without protections. We deserve more than that. And that’s exactly what we’re organizing to change.

SkyWest management is scared of losing control. They know a strong, organized group of Flight Attendants can hold them accountable. By undermining trust in negotiations, they hope to keep control and prevent us from gaining the power of our own voice and a legally-binding contract.

Our unity is the key—now and going forward. When we stand together—clear-eyed, informed, and unified—we have the power to rewrite the rules and take control of our future.

What would you negotiate for in a first contract? Sign a card today.