New Years Address from Veda Shook

Veda Shook, International President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) since January 1, 2011, is proud to be a Flight Attendant. As the top AFA officer, she is responsible for the overall leadership and direction of the union. Veda is the chief spokesperson for the union, primary liaison with other unions and labor organizations, airlines, industry groups and governmental agencies. Veda is also a member of the AFL-CIO Executive Council, a Vice President on the CWA Executive Board, Vice Chair of the Cabin Crew Committee for the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), and serves on the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Labor Advisory Board. Veda continues flying and sounding out members as president of the world’s largest union representing only Flight Attendants.

In 1991, after earning her bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Colorado-Boulder, with fluency in French, Veda moved to Portland, Ore. She was hired with Alaska Airlines as a Flight Attendant on June 7, 1991.

SARA NELSON
International Vice President
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO

Sara Nelson took office as the International Vice-President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO on January 1, 2011. Sara has been a union activist since nearly the beginning of her flying career, after becoming a United Airlines Flight Attendant in 1996.

The hallmarks of Sara's union activism have been collective action and effective communications. Early in her union career, Sara served in a variety of positions including CHAOS™ Strike Co-Coordinator, and Local Council Vice President, Local CHAOS Strike Coordinator and Council Rep. (United Airlines, Boston). In those roles she learned the power of collective action first hand.

"The members make our union powerful," Sara said. "When Flight Attendants march on the picket line, engage in CHAOS strikes, or come to the Hill to talk with their representatives, they bring attention to the important issues we face, and build leverage for our union and for our profession. We can raise our voices in many ways, and my job as a union leader is to make sure our voices are heard."

Prior to her election as International Vice President, Sara spent over eight years directing communications and PR efforts for the union's United Airlines unit. In that role she represented the union in all the major news media in the U.S., including news coverage on all the major networks, CNN, PBS, NPR, the BBC and BBC radio, and other overseas news outlets, major newspapers and wire service reports. She also was responsible for internal member communications and mobilization, experience which is invaluable for her role as International Vice President in directing leadership development, mobilization and organizing of Flight Attendants throughout the industry.

Sara also has extensive government relations experience having written Congressional testimony, coordinated Congressional press conferences, and personally lobbied members of Congress. She also conducted extensive training on a wide range of topics for union members.

Whether it's in organizing, in communications, or on the picket line, Sara is passionate about her union, and what it can mean to the Flight Attendant profession.

Sara grew up in Corvallis, Oregon and earned a bachelor's degree from Principia College with majors in English and Education before joining United Airlines as a Flight Attendant. She resides in the DC area with her husband, David Borer, who is the General Counsel of the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO. Sara and David are the proud parents of Jack, who was born in 2009, and attended his first picket line in support of improving Flight Attendant careers at the age of two months.

KEVIN CREIGHAN
International Secretary-Treasurer
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO

Kevin Creighan is a United Airlines Flight Attendant and has held office as AFA's International Secretary-Treasurer since October, 2005. First appointed by the AFA International President to fill a vacancy for the unexpired term of the previous Secretary-Treasurer, Creighan has since been voted to two full terms by the delegates to AFA's Board of Directors meeting.

Kevin's skills and experience make him uniquely qualified for the position of Secretary-Treasurer. Prior to his election to international office, Kevin was a local council officer from the time United's London Flight Attendant base opened in 1991, serving as Local Council President of Council 7 for 12 years. Kevin also served on AFA's Finance Committee at the national level for 10 years before taking international office.

"We will continue to protect our collective bargaining rights and use our collective strength to make the improvements our members need," Kevin said.
"Airline passengers and shareholders benefit from the dedication of Flight Attendants. The success of airlines cannot be measured by the stock price or management bonuses alone; it must also be measured by the life it affords the Flight Attendants who are the face of the airlines."

Prior to becoming a Flight Attendant and union activist, Kevin served as a finance officer in the United States Air Force, beginning in 1980. He later served in the Air Force Reserve as a contracting officer, doing financial work and supporting contract negotiations.

Kevin grew up in Peabody, Massachusetts. His wife and life partner, Cathy, is also a United Flight Attendant and AFA activist. Kevin has a bachelor's degree in economics from UMass Amherst and a master's degree in Business from Western New England College.