What is CHAOS™?
What is CHAOS?
CHAOS - Create Havoc Around Our System™ - is a strike action that may take many forms. It may call for a mass walkout for a day or a week at a time, with no advanced notice to the company or to the passengers. We may strike a certain domicile or a certain piece of equipment. We may strike the entire system for 15 minutes, or strike all of the odd numbered gates in Denver for a day. Or, as AFA did with success at Alaska Airlines, we may ask Flight Attendants to walk off individual flights at random and with no warning. CHAOS is a strategically planned and targeted set of actions designed to use our strengths to put pressure on management.
Railway Labor Act (RLA) is the federal law that governs labor relations in the airline industry. The RLA is a different law from the National Labor Relations Act, which governs most other industries in the United States. The Railway Labor Act is designed to deal with the unique nature of the transportation industry. When it comes to labor disputes during traditional (Section 6) Contract negotiations, the RLA calls for a process that includes a 30-day "cooling-off" period prior to a strike. Once that 30-day period is over, the RLA allows the parties involved to engage in "self-help." The 30-day cooling off period does not apply in this situation as a strike is a legally permissible response to the Bankruptcy Court rejection of our Contract. Striking is a form of self-help, and the RLA gives strikers options that aren't available to workers in other industries, such as intermittent strikes (CHAOS) and secondary picketing. The Supreme Court of the United States has reinforced on a number of occasions the unique authority that the RLA grants to strikers.
Why CHAOS and not a traditional strike?
CHAOS maximizes our impact on management, and minimizes the risk to Flight Attendants. Unlike a traditional strike, United management will not be able to predict when and where we will strike. Management will not know if we will conduct a mass strike, strike certain flights, strike certain cities, or conduct a mass strike for 15 minutes. CHAOS also allows Flight Attendants to continue to work and receive a paycheck right up until the strategic strike and then return to work again. CHAOS protects against the use of re-placement Flight Attendants. For example, roving one-day strikes at one do micile at a time would foul up the whole system, but going back after a day would guard against the deployment of replace ments. By selectively striking only on layovers, at certain cities or on certain days when staffing is at a minimum and there is a lack of available Flight Attendants, even a single striking crewmember could shut down a flight. Targeted strikes against specific types of aircraft or specific routes on a given day make it very difficult for the company to plan its schedule and react to CHAOS actions.
Can I be fired for participating in CHAOS?
United cannot legally fire Flight Attendants for participating in a legal strike action. AFA will not instruct Flight Attendants to begin strike actions until we are satisfied that the legal justification for a strike has been met. If management illegally fires you for participating in CHAOS, AFA will go to court and fight to get your job back. When Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants were fired for participating in CHAOS, they were reinstated because the court found the CHAOS strategy to be lawful.
How would I be notified that I am to strike?
This will depend on where or when the strike is to occur. If your flight is to be targeted, you will be contacted by an AFA representative, either upon check-in at the airport or by telephone. If you are out on a trip, you may be contacted by telephone at the hotel. If all flights are going to be struck, anticipate a major media announcement from AFA. If a strike is called, you will be notified. There will be no possible way for you to get on a plane and not know that a strike has been called for your flight. We are not on strike at this time; only take action if you are notified by AFA to take a specific action. AFA will also ensure that you are advised of when to return to work.
What should we say to passengers who have questions about CHAOS?
When you are working, don't discuss CHAOS with anyone onboard the aircraft, including passengers, deadheading crew, pilots or fellow Flight Attendants. If a strike involves one of your flights you will be given instructions for what announcement should be made. You are never to walk off an aircraft if there are passengers onboard unless a minimum crew remains with the passengers per the F.A.R.s. The remainder of the crew may leave the aircraft only when all passengers have deplaned. Safety must never be compromised.
Revised: November 17, 2004
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