Coronavirus stimulus bill: Flight attendant union 'achieved something unheard of in American history'
Flight attendants were among those rejoicing at the passage of the $2 trillion government stimulus bill in response to the coronavirus, which has had a major impact on the U.S. economy and businesses across the country.
The bill — titled the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) — ensures that even with drastically decreased air traffic amid the pandemic, aviation workers will still get paid. It passed both chambers of Congress and awaits President Trump’s signature.
“Our union put forward this plan, and we worked with unions representing workers across aviation and transportation to make our case to Congress,” Sara Nelson, the president of the Association of Flight Attendants union, told Yahoo Finance. “Hundreds of thousands of people sent letters and made calls. Together, we achieved something unheard of in American history: relief crafted for workers, by workers.”
‘An unprecedented win for frontline aviation workers’
The bill allocates $25 billion for passenger air carriers, $4 billion for cargo air carriers, and $3 billion for contractors. Those funds must be used to pay employee wages, salaries, and benefits. The amount that each carrier receives specifically is based on the amount they paid employees from April 1 to September 30, 2019, that was reported to the Department of Transportation.
“This is an unprecedented win for frontline aviation workers and a template all workers can build from,” Nelson said. “The payroll grants we won in this bill will save hundreds of thousands of jobs and will keep working people connected to health care many will need during this pandemic.”
Not everyone was happy with the outcome of the bill — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) blasted the Senate for the lack of protections for American families, calling it “one of the largest corporate bailouts with as few strings as possible in American history. Shameful!”
But Nelson did not see the bill as a corporate bailout.
“It’s a rescue package for workers,” she said, “for flight attendants, gate agents, pilots, mechanics, caterers, airport maintenance and janitorial staff, and everyone who keeps our aviation system moving. It ensures our aviation system can operate as needed during the crisis, especially to continue moving critical personnel, aid workers, supplies, and other essential business.”