ULCC Norwegian Air FA's Requested Union...Done Deal, Fair Wage

In a surprising step, the International Association of Machinists agreed to represent flight attendants at a U.S. affiliate of Norwegian Air. a Norwegian airline group that is shaking up trans-Atlantic travel with a low-cost model and a confusing array of affiliated companies including multiple airlines and a labor contractor and that had, until now, met with fierce resistance from the entire U.S. airline labor movement.
The IAM, the largest U.S. airline union, said late Wednesday that it has been recognized as the representative of the 40 U.S.-based flight attendants who will fly for Norwegian Air International, one of the affiliated companies.

Dublin, Ireland-based Norwegian Air International will begin trans-Atlantic service this summer from Stewart, N.Y. and Providence, R.I., with narrowbody Boeing 737 Max aircraft. The startup of U.S. flight was delayed for three years while NAI awaited approval from the U.S. Transportation Department. That approval was opposed by the big three U.S. carriers and by labor unions who argued that incorporation in Ireland represented an effort to evade labor protections that would have remained in place for a Norway-based company.
IAM's deal is with OSM Short Haul, a contracting company that is 50% owned by Norwegian Air.

"We are delighted to welcome OSM-Short Haul flight attendants into the IAM family," said Sito Pantoja, IAM general vice president, in a prepared statement. "Once the Department of Transportation granted NAI a foreign air carrier permit, we mobilized to make sure US-based flight attendants working NAI flights had IAM representation. :cool::cool: