Japan Press Weekly

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2016 March 30 - April 5 [LABOR]

Delta Air Lines to convert contract Japanese CAs to regular workers

Delta Air Lines, a major U.S. carrier, plans to turn its Japanese contract cabin attendants into regular workers, Akahata reported on April 1.

The number of flight attendants that the company hires in Japan is around 60 for regular workers and 95 for one-year contract workers.

According to the Delta plan, contract workers who were dismissed in 2014 as part of the company’s downsizing measures will be called back and receive regular employment offers.

A woman who is a member of the Japan Cabin Crew Union (JCC) and sought the withdrawal of her dismissal by Delta said to Akahata, “I will be able to become a regular worker which was my long-time dream.”

The woman was dismissed in December 2014. The company explained that it needed to reduce its workforce because it decided to decrease the number of cabin attendants per flight in accordance with revisions of on-board services.

She joined the JCC, which organizes cabin crew in foreign airlines and low cost carriers, and began fighting against the airlines. In December 2015, she filed a lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court demanding the revocation of the dismissal. The company’s plan to convert contract workers into regular workers put an end to the court battle.

JCC Chair Kiya Noriko said that Delta Air Lines made a wise decision. She also said that improved safety and better services can be expected as experienced contract workers obtain regular worker status.

Past related articles:
> Union wins JAL’s decision to offer regular employment to all of its contracted FAs [December 16, 2015]
> ILO to JAL: negotiate with unions toward reinstating laid-off crew [December 16, 2015]