Northwest flight attendants form new union

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A group of Northwest Airlines flight attendants kicked off a campaign Monday to replace the International Brotherhood of Teamsters with a new independent union.

The Professional Flights Attendants Association would be headquartered in Minneapolis and be composed of just Northwest flight attendants, said PFAA spokesman Gary Helton.

"The Teamsters may be a satisfactory labor union for truck drivers, but they do not understand flight attendant issues," Helton said.

In order for the Teamsters to be replaced by the PFAA, 50 percent plus one additional flight attendant must sign and submit an authorization card requesting a union change. The National Mediation Board would then call for an election.

Northwest, the world's fourth largest carrier, has 11,000 flight attendants.

"We've got thousands of flight attendants who have expressed an interest in signing the cards," said Helton, adding that the authorization cards have been mailed to all Northwest flight attendants.

The Teamsters could not immediately be reached for comment.

The PFAA campaign comes when the Teamsters, which has represented Northwest flight attendants for 26 years, was set to increase union dues July 1. Helton said PFAA officers would be elected directly by Northwest flight attendants, making them accountable to their issues.