242:(TSA) reversed its decision to allow knives on passenger flights, after first announcing it would lift the knife ban. Their rationale was that national security would be advanced if TSA officers spent less time looking for knives and more time watching for explosives. AFA, with VP Sara Nelson leading the campaign, persuaded TSA executives that knives have no place on the aircraft. Featured on the
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bankruptcy in U.S. history, Nelson was leading both the internal and external communications response to what would become one of the longest corporate bankruptcies when it finally ended over three years later. When United used the bankruptcy to terminate the flight attendants pension plan, Nelson announced AFA's intent to engage in a strike.
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She later served simultaneously as the union's CHAOS strike chair during two rounds of labor negotiations, and provided communications support to other groups of AFA flight attendants, including those at
Northwest Airlines where she served as AFA spokesperson during bankruptcy negotiations and strike
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since August 1996. Soon after beginning her career, based in Boston for United
Airlines, Nelson became an activist in the Boston AFA Local. She served in a variety of roles including the elected position of Council Representative. In 2002 Nelson was selected by AFA leaders at United Airlines to serve
273:
Nelson was elected to the position of AFA International
President in April 2014 and took office June 1, 2014. As International President, Nelson is the top officer of AFA, responsible for the overall leadership and direction of the union. She serves as chair of the union's annual convention, the AFA
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devastated international air travel. Airlines including United
Airlines undertook cost-cutting measures, and Nelson served as the primary spokesperson for the union during those extensive pre-bankruptcy reorganization negotiations. By December 2002, when United Airlines filed the largest corporate
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following the merger of those carriers. Covering nearly 25,000 workers, that campaign culminated in one of the largest private sector union elections in decades. She later led the union's successful organizing drive to represent the combined unit of flight attendants from
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later interviewed Nelson, after the ban was reinstated. According to Nelson, the campaign succeeded because it worked as a coalition with congressional leaders, was backed by a legal team, arranged demonstrations at airports, and exerted "pressure from all sides."
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In nearly 10 years as the union's chief spokesperson for United flight attendants, Nelson played a central role in the union's strategic response to major events affecting the airline industry. In 2002, a year after the devastating impact of the
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Board of
Directors, as well as the union's executive board. She is the chief spokesperson for the union, and the primary liaison with other unions and labor organizations, airlines, industry groups and governmental agencies.
293:. In a speech on January 24, 2019, Nelson excoriated government officials for the shutdown, citing 800,000 federal workers who were forced to work for free or furloughed without pay. Nelson argued that TSA officers and
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Shortly after her election as
International Vice President, Nelson undertook the leadership of AFA's internal and external organizing efforts. Under her leadership AFA prevailed in an representation election versus the
277:
Taking office as
International Vice President of AFA in 2011, Nelson was responsible for the union's organizing, communications and leadership development programs. Nelson also testified regularly before the
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Nelson initially intended to pursue acting, but instead worked four jobs to pay off her student debt, including as a substitute teacher, waitress, linen salesperson, and temp at an insurance agency.
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were distracted by the burdens the shutdown placed on them, and that was eroding the safety of the airline industry. The shutdown ended the next day as flights began to be cancelled at New York
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322:(ITF), the global federation of transportation unions from 148 countries, representing a combined membership of 4.5 million, at the ITF Congress in Sofia, Bulgaria.
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Nelson's militancy as a labor leader and her skill as a communicator have both been recognized as key to her effectiveness in the shutdown fight and beyond.
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preparations. In 2011 Nelson left the communications post when she was elected
International Vice President, the union's number two leadership position.
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since 1996, she previously served as AFA's international vice president for a term beginning
January 1, 2011. AFA-CWA represents nearly 50,000
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1005:"Lives are at risk because of the gov't shutdown, and these airline workers want Trump to take that seriouslypic.twitter.com/5IwW4zocWr"
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1076:"With Just 22 Words, This United Airlines Flight Attendant Brilliantly Explained What's at Stake With the Boeing 737 MAX"
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on issues of importance to flight attendants, like the Known Crew Member
Program and the No Knives Campaign.
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909:"Welcome Ms. Nelson; SMS is a vehicle for AFA to expand its Aviation Safety Program | JDA Journal"
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featured an interview with Nelson, citing "Growing Outrage" about the lifting of the ban. Featured on
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1053:"Meet the Militant Flight Attendant Leader Who Threatened a Strike—And Helped Stop Trump's Shutdown"
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117:(born March 11, 1973) is an American union leader who serves as the international president of the
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due to air traffic controllers no longer able to serve safely due to the impact of the shutdown.
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for the bargaining rights covering the combined flight attendant workforce of United Airlines,
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543:"The Shutdown Made Sara Nelson Into America's Most Powerful Flight Attendant (Published 2019)"
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On August 12, 2014, Nelson was elected to the Aviation Steering Committee of the
1028:"Why the LaGuardia delays may have played a special role in ending the shutdown"
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383:, and have one son. Borer is an attorney serving as the general counsel of the
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1248:"President Biden Nominates Julie Su for Secretary of the Department of Labor"
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954:"The Shutdown Made Sara Nelson Into America's Most Powerful Flight Attendant"
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289:. On January 20, 2019, nearly a month into the shutdown, Nelson called for a
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356:. In February 2023, it was reported that Nelson was being considered by the
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1127:"Biden And Sanders Announce Task Forces To Find Party Unity Over Policy"
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1213:"Top labor official, union leader among contenders for Labor secretary"
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704:"Knives On Planes Outrage Grows: Will Passengers And Crew Be Safe?"
730:"U.S. security agency scraps plan to allow small knives on planes"
258:, Nelson took the campaign international to add growing pressure.
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Nelson also led AFA's No Knives Ever Again Campaign in 2013. The
486:"Corvallis native elected president of flight attendants union"
404:"Corvallis native elected president of flight attendants union"
255:
1153:"Opinion | Here's who Biden should pick for a dream Cabinet"
756:"Flight Attendants vs. Knives: Anatomy of a Regulatory Win"
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after his resignation. However, Deputy Secretary of Labor
884:"Flight Attendant Unions Score With 'No Knives' Campaign"
980:"Is a General Strike What's Needed to End the Shutdown?"
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Kaori Gurley, Lauren; Stein, Jeff (February 24, 2023).
235:, following the merger that created Endeavor Airlines.
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to create a unity platform for the Democratic Party.
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in 1995, where she majored in English and education.
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602:"Flight attendants say morale is near rock bottom"
325:On May 13, 2020, Nelson was named co-chair of the
287:2018–19 United States federal government shutdown
783:"Opinion | Don't Let Knives Back on Planes"
808:"Flight attendant: TSA change 'is outrageous'"
679:"Northwest Airlines crews prepare to walk out"
310:named Nelson as one of its "50 Badass Women".
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379:Nelson and her husband, David Borer, live in
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164:, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from
385:American Federation of Government Employees
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320:International Transport Workers Federation
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1187:"Meet the contenders for Biden's Cabinet"
833:"Outrage grows over TSA knives decision"
346:2020 United States presidential election
285:In 2019 Nelson played a key role in the
179:Nelson has been a flight attendant with
952:Kitroeff, Natalie (February 22, 2019).
541:Kitroeff, Natalie (February 22, 2019).
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212:International Association of Machinists
460:"Sky Rights: Union Leader Sara Nelson"
240:Transportation Security Administration
1402:Corvallis High School (Oregon) alumni
348:, Nelson was mentioned as a possible
7:
1278:Association of Flight Attendants-CWA
433:Gonnerman, Jennifer (May 30, 2022).
1185:Politico Staff (November 7, 2020).
1074:Murphy, Bill Jr. (March 14, 2019).
855:"Backlash over knives on US planes"
628:"Deadline stalking United, unions"
14:
1397:American women's rights activists
978:Loomis, Erik (January 25, 2019).
911:. Jdasolutions.aero. June 5, 2014
435:"Flight Attendants Fighting Back"
354:United States Department of Labor
192:rocked the airline industry, the
16:American union leader (born 1973)
1354:Association of Flight Attendants
1125:Sprunt, Barbara (May 13, 2020).
626:Susan Chandler (March 9, 2003).
516:"Movers & Shakers (June 23)"
352:appointee for a position in the
119:Association of Flight Attendants
781:Nelson, Sara (March 27, 2013).
1437:Vice presidents of the AFL–CIO
1392:American women trade unionists
653:"U.S. Takes United's Pensions"
152:Nelson was born and raised in
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1422:People from Corvallis, Oregon
329:formed by Democratic nominee
1412:American trade union leaders
933:. Investing.businessweek.com
744:– via www.reuters.com.
708:International Business Times
360:as a potential successor to
1432:Trade unionists from Oregon
575:Kelly, Kim (May 13, 2019).
158:Church of Christ, Scientist
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1299:"David Borer | C-SPAN.org"
577:"Sara Nelson's Art of War"
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184:as Communications Chair.
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1427:Principia College alumni
1151:Committee, The Ranking.
148:Early life and education
520:Corvallis Gazette Times
295:air traffic controllers
464:The Corvallis Advocate
333:and former candidate
280:United States Congress
220:Continental Micronesia
1387:Activists from Oregon
162:Corvallis High School
1338:Trade union offices
371:was chosen instead.
358:Biden administration
269:International office
216:Continental Airlines
190:September 11 Attacks
1358:2014–present
1254:. February 28, 2023
1218:The Washington Post
37:Sara Nelson at the
1007:. January 24, 2019
547:The New York Times
362:secretary of labor
327:Economy Task Force
299:La Guardia Airport
41:convention in 2015
1407:Flight attendants
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1361:Succeeded by
1352:President of the
1250:(Press release).
1026:Keshner, Andrew.
657:Los Angeles Times
233:Pinnacle Airlines
166:Principia College
154:Corvallis, Oregon
138:flight attendants
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64:Corvallis, Oregon
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156:. Raised in the
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1274:"Leadership"
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1105:InStyle.com
1032:MarketWatch
931:"Bloomberg"
882:Reed, Ted.
560:November 8,
526:November 8,
470:November 8,
365:Marty Walsh
251:Morning Joe
115:Sara Nelson
100:David Borer
25:Sara Nelson
1376:Categories
1346:Veda Shook
500:August 10,
418:August 10,
391:References
245:Today Show
229:Colgan Air
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1364:Incumbent
1227:0190-8286
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812:TODAY.com
683:USA Today
606:USA Today
555:0362-4331
342:Joe Biden
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344:won the
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