| Veda Shook | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Labor leader, flight attendant |
Veda Shook is the International President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO. An Alaska Airlines flight attendant since 1991, she previously served as AFA's International Vice President for a term beginning January 1, 2007. Today, AFA-CWA represents nearly 60,000 flight attendants at 23 airlines, making it the largest flight attendant union in the world.
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Veda has been a flight attendant with Alaska Airlines since June 7, 1991. Soon after beginning her career, Veda organized with fellow Portland Flight Attendants to gain local status within the union for the Portland flight attendant base. She then ran successfully to become the first local president of AFA's Portland council.
When Veda was elected president of AFA's Alaska Airlines MEC, she became an outspoken advocate not only on behalf of the Alaska Flight Attendants, but also for the Flight Attendant profession as a whole.[1] She also organized the Volunteer Organizers for Information, Communication and Education (VOICE) committee, and then employed the VOICE committee to ensure two-way communications with the members of the union during contract negotiations. That led to an industry-leading contract with Alaska Airlines.[2] Veda's approach to negotiations has been both tough and accommodating, fostering cooperative relationships that have benefited Flight Attendants – from compensation increases to work flexibility enhancements to cabin air safety protections to family leave provisions. As MEC President, Veda also spearheaded a diversity movement by creating a committee to work with management to promote a workforce that more closely represents the communities they serve.
Veda also worked to improve the situation for all working mothers at Alaska Airlines by adding newer, more progressive language to the collective bargaining agreement, including a provision to extend maternity leave. Now the mother of two children, Veda continues to advocate for working parents and the ability for all Flight Attendants to care for loved ones.
Veda was recruited to help with AFA’s organizing campaign at Delta Air Lines even before she became president of the Alaska MEC. As a union organizer, she coordinated efforts in western domiciles during AFA’s first Delta campaign. Until she was elected International President in April 2010, Veda directed the union’s efforts in the most recent campaign to organize Delta’s Flight Attendants. While serving as International Vice President, Veda led successful organizing drives for the flight attendants at Lynx Air International, USA3000, Ryan International and Compass Airlines.
As International Vice President, in addition to her organizing work, she directed AFA’s leadership development, organizational development and internal organizing in support of contract campaigns and legislative battles. Veda also testified regularly before the United States Congress on issues of importance to flight attendants, and believes that we can have an impact on airline industry and labor policy.
As International President, Veda 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 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.
Veda graduated from the University of Colorado-Boulder in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations, and fluency in French.