Linda Puchala is an American government official who has served as a member of the National Mediation Board (NMB) since 2009. Puchala is the former president of the Association of Flight Attendants.
Linda A. Puchala | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chairman of the National Mediation Board | |
| In office July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Gerald W. Fauth III |
| Succeeded by | Deirdre Hamilton |
| In office July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Kyle Fortson |
| Succeeded by | Kyle Fortson |
| In office July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017 | |
| President | Barack Obama Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Nicholas Geale |
| Succeeded by | Harry R. Hoglander |
| In office July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Harry R. Hoglander |
| Succeeded by | Harry R. Hoglander |
| In office July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Harry R. Hoglander |
| Succeeded by | Harry R. Hoglander |
| In office May 26, 2009 – June 30, 2010 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Read C. Van de Water |
| Succeeded by | Harry R. Hoglander |
| Member of the National Mediation Board | |
| Assumed office May 26, 2009 | |
| President | Barack Obama Donald Trump Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Read Van de Water |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michigan |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Cleary University |
Career
editPuchala started as a flight attendant in 1969 with North Central Airlines;[1] in a 1985 article she noted that was a time when women had to resign when they married or reached age 32.[2] North Central Airlines merged with Republic Airlines and Puchala served as the master executive council chairperson.[3]
In 1979 she was elected as president of the Association of Flight Attendants and, once she convinced her family to move to Washington, DC,[4] she served in that role until 1986.[5] Puchala viewed herself as a candidate for the position because of her ability to serve as a mediator.[6] As noted in the 1982 book From sky girl to flight attendant: women and the making of a union, she faced multiple challenges including airline deregulation and rising costs.[7] In 1984 the Association of Flight Attendants union was linked within the AFL–CIO,[8] making Puchala the first female president of a chartered federation union.[1][9] She was active in addressing issues with discrimination against women in aviation[10] and in 1985 she spoke with the New York Times about how women are turning to unions in the aviation industry because of inequitable treatment.[2] She also worked to increase the association's ability to effectively generate publications that were shared with members.[11] In 1985, when Puchala was denied a place on the executive committee of the Air Line Pilots Association, labor activists were surprised and noted that despite advances, women were still not treated equally in the workplace.[12]
Puchala served on President Barack Obama's transition team and he nominated her for the National Mediation Board in 2009.[13][14] She was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 21, 2009.[15] Her past with unions was noted as a positive given the pending contract negotiations between airlines and their unions, and the potential for conflict during the negotiations.[16] She help negotiate contracts between labor unions and multiple companies including UPS,[17] US Airways,[18] and United Airlines.[19] Her appointment to the National Mediation Board was viewed by some as a favor to unions given the board's changes to the National Rail Act in May of 2010 which made it easier for unions to recruit new members.[20]
President Donald Trump nominated her for an additional term on the National Mediation Board,[21] and she was confirmed to a second term in August 2013.[citation needed]
She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate for her third term on November 2, 2017.[22] In 2022, she was nominated by Joe Biden to serve as a member of the National Mediation Board.[15]
References
edit- ^ a b Serrin, William (February 27, 1984). "REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: LABOR AND THE ISSUE OF LEBANON". The New York Times.
- ^ a b Greenhouse, Steven (September 1, 1985). "RESHAPING LABOR TO WOO THE YOUNG". The New York Times.
- ^ "The NMB's newest member: Linda Puchala" (PDF). 2009.
- ^ Cobble, Dorothy Sue (1993). Women and unions : forging a partnership. Internet Archive. Ithaca, N.Y. : ILR Press. p. 386. ISBN 978-0-87546-300-1.
- ^ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Key Additions to his Administration". whitehouse.gov. September 15, 2017. Retrieved November 3, 2017 – via National Archives.
- ^ Gray, Lois (2001). "Women in Union Leadership". In Costello, Cynthia B.; Stone, Anne J. (eds.). The American woman, 2001-2002 : getting to the top. Internet Archive. New York : Norton. ISBN 978-0-393-32142-5.
- ^ Nielsen, Georgia Panter (1982). From sky girl to flight attendant : women and the making of a union. Internet Archive. Ithaca, NY : ILR Press. pp. 135–136. ISBN 978-0-87546-093-2.
- ^ "AFL-CIO News 1984-03-03: Vol 29 Iss 9". American Federation of Labor and. March 3, 1984.
- ^ Von Bergen, Drew (February 23, 1984). "AFL-CIO leaders vote charter to flight attendants". UPI. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
- ^ Karim, Persis (November 16, 1985). "People's World 1985-11-16: Vol 48 Iss 46". Longview Publishing Company, Inc. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ Forbes, Mary Ann (1992). "The promise of technology: a case study". In Pizzigati, Sam; Solowey, Fred J. (eds.). The New labor press : journalism for a changing union movement. Internet Archive. Ithaca, N.Y. : ILR Press. ISBN 978-0-87546-189-2.
- ^ Arthur A. Sloane (1991). Labor relations. Internet Archive. Prentice Hall. p. 82. ISBN 978-0-13-517798-3.
- ^ Esterl, Mike (April 14, 2009). "American Airlines faces cash crunch, labour unrest". The Globe and Mail. p. B.11.
- ^ Wilson, Scott (March 13, 2009). "44 - Obama Rounds Out Staffs at Agencies". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 15, 2015. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ a b "President Biden Announces Six Key Nominations". The White House. July 2, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ Johnsson, Julie (March 30, 2009). "A new player awaits seat". Chicago Tribune. p. 1.19.
- ^ Hirschman, Dave (February 9, 2003). "UPS and its pilots gear up for new bargaining approach". Atlanta Journal - Constitution. p. Q.1.
- ^ "US Airways Forms Tentative Agreement with Association of Flight Attendants". Travel & Leisure Close - Up. August 13, 2012.
- ^ "United Airlines Employees Represented by IAM Ratify New Joint Labor Pacts". Manufacturing Close - Up; Jacksonville. November 1, 2013.
- ^ Freddoso, David (2011). Gangster government : Barack Obama and the new Washington thugocracy. Internet Archive. Washington, D.C. : Regnery Pub. pp. 131–132. ISBN 978-1-59698-648-0.
- ^ Wilner, Frank (June 23, 2017). "Fauth Trump's second NMB nominee". Railway Age. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
- ^ Ferrechio, Susan (November 2, 2017). "Senate confirmation blitz includes 16 ambassadors, 11 other Trump appointees". Washington Examiner. Retrieved November 3, 2017.