Avelo Airlines on Thursday said it has secured membership with the powerful Association of Flight Attendants-CWA union.
The announcement, officially made by the National Mediation Board, came six months after the upstart, low-budget carrier filed for an election with supermajority support.


The flight attendants accused Avelo management of running an anti-union campaign that has allegedly led to one of the highest turnover rates in the country, even though the carrier is relatively new on the scene.
“Avelo Flight Attendants sent a message to their management and anyone thinking of starting an airline: we want respect and fairness from the start,” Sara Nelson, the union’s international president, said in a statement.


“The Flight Attendants will elect representatives from among their ranks and dig into the work of preparing for contract negotiations based on the priorities set by all Avelo Flight Attendants. As part of AFA they have experts to work with them through the collective bargaining process and the full strength of our Flight Attendant union behind them every step of the way.”
After receiving the ruling from the National Mediation Board, representatives for the flight attendants delivered the official letter to Avelo management and asked for negotiations on a contract to begin.