Extend CARES Payroll Support to protect thousands of aviation workers

Over the last four months, Flight Attendants and our industry have faced an unprecedented crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our fast mobilization in March led to passage of the CARES Act, including the aviation Payroll Support Program (PSP) to stave off involuntary furlough and “for the continuation of employee wages, salaries, and benefits." The virus continues to be a threat to our health, jobs, and industry. Domestic demand for air travel is not expected to return until well into 2021. Passenger travel is still only about 20% of what it was last year, while international travel is currently restricted and predicted to take years to recover. Without an extension of the Payroll Support Program there will be hundreds of thousands of aviation workers who lose our jobs on October 1. We are calling for a six month aviation Payroll Support Program extension through March 31, 2021, to protect our jobs, extend the restrictions on stock buybacks, dividends, and executive compensation, and maintain service to all of our communities. All of aviation labor is standing together to call on Congress to pass a clean extension of the Payroll Support Program before the summer recess at the end of July. Waiting until September for this action is too late because October planning will be done and hundreds of thousands of workers will already be told they are out of work. We need urgent action on this now. Extend the CARES Act Payroll Support Program to protect hundreds of thousands of aviation workers.

First sent on July 1, 2020 by Association of Flight Attendants - CWA