Recently, Aloha and ATA Airlines, airlines which serve areas including Hawaii, San Francisco, Mexico, Chicago, and other locations went out of business, leaving thousands of people unemployed and their families in crisis.  Particularly affected are the airlines' thousands of flight attendants, many of whom are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, unemployed.  

The flight attendants, members of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA), received stable wages, health benefits, including domestic partner benefits, and a pathway to retirement through their union jobs.  Now, they face the hard realities of unemployment in a dismal job market.  They need our help now.  

Now until May, 30th, Pride At Work, the representative of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender workers in the labor movement and beyond, will be asking our members, community, and allies to take a moment and make a donation that will help keep food on the table of our flight attendant friends and family.  

For $30, Pride At Work will purchase a $20 gift card to a local grocery store, and include it in a personalized card of solidarity with a message designated by you which will go directly to an unemployed Aloha or ATA flight attendant.  The other $10 will make you a member or renew your membership to Pride At Work for one year.  You'll receive a membership pin, be added to our lgbt worker action center, and receive our newsletter, with important updates on the lgbt labor scene in your community and the nation.  In addition, $5 will go to the Pride At Work chapter in your area.  Finally, with your permission, we'll include your name on a collective "thinking of you" card that we will publish in a Hawaii lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender newspaper.  

If you give more, Aloha and ATA Flight attendants will receive more.  Give $100, and we'll purchase $90 dollars worth of grocery store gift cards for flight attendants.  Give $500, and we'll send $490 dollars worth of gift cards to our brothers and sisters who now face unemployment.  

Please donate what you can.  Every little bit helps.  To donate, please visit our secure site.  

*Attention Union Locals and Allied Organizations! Your gift  is appreciated and we'll include a one-year organizational membership with your donation of $100 or more.  

For questions or more information, please contact the Pride At Work National office at 202-637-5014 or via email at jbishop@aflcio.org 

Let's raise our voices and let our friends and families on the unemployment line know that the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community is thinking of them in this difficult time.  

Pride At Work

815 16th Street, NW 

Washington, DC 20006

htttp://www.prideatwork.org