Legislative Committee

Chairperson, Chris Boelens

I am so proud to have the opportunity to chair the legislative committee. My involvement began with IAM 2339N in 2007 when I was working with Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.  My love of politics, gave me the drive to give everyone a voice.  This love brought me to a local lodge meeting, to register voters. Although my work with Hillary came to end in 2008, my dream for the flight attendants at Continental and ExpressJet was just beginning.  

I joined the Legislative committee in September of 2008.  During that time, I had the honor of working with incredible members from our local union. We lobbied members of Congress and Senate on important issues related to Flight Attendants.  These issues included the FAA Reauthorization Bill and Health Care Reform. I have also attended numerous educational courses and political conferences to better position our members through legislation.  

In the coming months I hope to lead this team on a new journey that will include advocating for health care, working families and creating a stable work environment.  We will be taking on roles as ambassadors, while working with other committees on human rights, women’s rights and health care. We will determine how these important issues can be tackled through legislation.

Many Flight Attendants believe that a union just negotiates contracts, but a major role we play is as community leaders. Advocating for people across America makes this union stronger, prouder, and more stable for the ever changing future.  Education and involvement will be the cornerstone of our success, because to me, this is truly about finding the solutions to secure the future of our Flight Attendants.                                        


Chris Boelens
IAM 2339N Trustee
Legislative Committee Chair

Chris.Boelens@LL23394u.org

The Machinists Non-Partisan Political League is the political arm of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.  It was created in 1947 to allow IAM members to gather individual contributions, coordinate political activity, and elect candidates who support IAM members and their families.

 

Candidates we support know that the MNPL stands for economic justice, security in the workplace and equality for every member. They do not take us for granted.

 

The MNPL scrutinizes each candidate thoroughly.  We ask tough questions such as their positions on trade, labor law reform, economic conversion, transportation policies, and enhancement of the U.S. manufacturing base.

 

The top ten multi-national corporations contributed over $23.6 million to federal candidates during the 2004 election cycle.  Each year, the top ten lobbying organizations for Corporate America spend over $108.7 million to influence Congress and the White House.  To fight back, MNPL needs your help.  Please contribute what you can.

_____________________________________________________________________

September 1, 2010

Washington, DC – As Congressional leaders begin to return to work after summer recess, six unions representing over 90,000 flight attendants at 37 U.S. airlines, urged members to quickly pass the comprehensive reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration that was almost completed earlier this year. After 15 continuing resolutions, both the House and Senate passed versions that contained several key flight attendant provisions but the differences have yet to be resolved.

“Passage of the FAA Reauthorization bill, which contains several flight attendant specific safety related items, is long overdue and must be a legislative priority. We call on Congress to finish the work they started, work out the differences between the two bills, and pass a comprehensive FAA reauthorization. Short term extensions are no longer a viable option. It is time that workplace safety and health protections for flight attendants are finally addressed,” stated leaders from the Flight Attendant Coalition.

Measures previously included in the recent version of the FAA Reauthorization are funding for a flight attendant fatigue study; the inclusion of OSHA workplace safety and health protections; a ban on smoking onboard charter flights; notification of pesticide application on flights; a ban on cell phones while in flight; cabin air quality provisions that would initiate development of air quality sensors and filtration; further definition of provisions restricting foreign control of U.S. airlines; a "Return to the Cabin" program that will allow flight attendants an opportunity for rehabilitation after testing positive for drug or alcohol abuse; and temperature standards for aircraft.

The Coalition consists of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the Transport Workers Union (TWU), and the United Steelworkers (USW).