COURTESY TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION OF AMERICA
courtesy transport workers union of america
Leaflet handed out by passenger on Allegiant Air Saturday.
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A passenger handing out leaflets in support of Allegiant Air’s flight attendants on the company’s inaugural flight from Spokane, Wash., to Hawaii was met by three sheriffs upon arrival in Honolulu on Saturday.
Honolulu Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Toni Schwartz said no one was arrested because there was no crime, no flight standard violation and no complaint issued from the captain or flight crew.
"The captain of the aircraft called asking for guidance because he wasn’t sure if (leafleting) was allowed," Schwartz said. "When a flight crew requests the aid of the sheriffs, they will always respond to it no matter the severity of it."
The Transport Workers Union, which represents more than 600 Allegiant flight attendants at the Las Vegas-based carrier, and the company are in federal mediation now over the flight attendants’ first-ever contract.
Allegiant spokeswoman Jessica Wheeler said the person distributing leaflets to other passengers on the Spokane-Honolulu flight was an employee of another airline. The leaflets criticized the company for halting service from some cities on short notice.
"The passenger was advised that distribution is not allowed onboard the aircraft and asked to retake her seat," Wheeler said. "The crew on this flight was put in an unusual situation but by all accounts handled this professionally and appropriately. The safety of our passengers and crew is our No. 1 priority."
Wheeler said negotiations between the company and union have "hit a rough spot" and said this is the union’s way of responding. "We believe our time is better spent attacking the issues rather than one another," she said.
