WASHINGTON, July 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) International President Veda Shook issued the following statement today after House Republicans triggered a partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA):

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110302/DC58223LOGO )

"Blinded by their hatred for workers' rights, House Republicans have caused a partial shutdown of the FAA resulting in the lay off of 100,000 workers and costing $200 million a week for our nation's economy.

"Our flights will operate but long-term aviation operations will suffer. This will affect our airlines who are involved in mergers as the FAA's ability to move forward on plans for awarding single operating certificates will be delayed. And immediately, this will be devastating for US workers who will lose their jobs.

"The House Republican leadership has been holding the negotiations over this critical funding bill hostage in their single-minded crusade against workers' right to join a union and bargain for a contract. Republicans are disregarding the democratic principle that majority rules – demanding instead that votes not cast be counted as no votes. Not one member of Congress would be in office today if they were held to the same standard in their elections.

"The long-term ripple effects of the shutdown will be felt throughout the country. Employees in the aviation industry could see the results in terms of reduced air travel, as working families in 35 states cope with the financial devastation caused by the widespread job loss.

"This irresponsible and unnecessary partisan posturing is affecting oversight of our aviation system - a system that is relied upon worldwide by the traveling public. The necessary improvements for our airlines and the airports we rely upon will impact our ability to compete on a global scale."

The Association of Flight Attendants is the world's largest Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for over 65 years. Serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill, AFA has transformed the Flight Attendant profession by raising wages, benefits and working conditions. Nearly 60,000 Flight Attendants at 23 airlines come together to form AFA, part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.

SOURCE Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO