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By Jim Douglas |
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August 28, 2010 -
A Compass Airlines flight attendant, represented by the Association of
Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), was terminated on Thursday after
publicly revealing she qualified for foods stamps. Despite a full-time
schedule, flight attendant Kirsten Arianejad was recently featured in a
local television interview announcing that she had been approved for
food stamps in order compensate for her low wages.
"Poverty is not a
crime and it is despicable that Compass Airlines would fire an employee
for speaking the truth,? said Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International
President. ?Unfortunately, there are flight attendants across the
country who have to rely on federal and state assistance to make ends
meet. Instead of paying hardworking flight attendants a living wage, airline management would rather shame them and make them fear for their jobs. We call on Compass to immediately reinstate Kirsten Arianejad." |
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While regional
carriers now operate over 50 percent of daily commercial flying, they
continue to pay poverty-level wages to flight attendants and other
employees. Many flight attendants from various regional carriers find it
difficult to provide for themselves and their families.
Compass flight
attendants are paid at or near the minimum wage with a starting flight
attendant annually making between $13,842 ($1,153.50/month) and $15,453
($1,287.75/month). The
maximum income level to qualify for food stamps in
Compass flight
attendants, who joined AFA-CWA in November 2009, are currently in
contract negotiations for their first agreement.
Compass Airlines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Trans States
Holdings, Inc., conducts regional flying for Delta Air Lines.
Compass Airlines
is a regional airline headquartered on the grounds of |