Carla Winkler began doing union work in 1969 and has served on most committees and in most positions of the US Union of Flight Attendants. She became union President just before it merged with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) in 1984. Since 1994 she has been Grand Lodge Representative in the IAM.

Among Carla’s keen interests has been health and safety reform. Recently she helped develop the IAM’s first International Transportation Symposium which brought together union leaders from North America and beyond to deal with the impact of globalisation.

In March 2001, Carla was elected Chair of the ITF Civil Aviation Section. This makes her the first woman to hold the chair of an ITF Section.

On 11 September 2001, Carla was at the IAM training facilities outside Washington DC when they heard the news of the attacks on the World Trade Centre and Pentagon. IAM members were among those who lost their lives. The union immediately went into action, offering support and counselling to bereaved families, reservation agents who received many of the calls from the planes and relatives, and traumatised and stranded cabin crew.

What do you consider is the biggest challenge of the next 12 months facing the ITF?

I would have answered this question quite differently prior to 11 September 2001. But no-one could have conceived of the unthinkable events of that day. The full impact on the aviation industry as well as on the world economy has not yet been seen. It is imperative that public confidence is restored in the aviation industry and employees must feel they work in a safe and secure environment. If workers do not have faith in the system, then the public never will.

A co-ordinated effort by the governments, unions, airport regulators and airline managements is called for. Addressing aviation security has to be of paramount importance for the Civil Aviation Section of the ITF. There is a twofold challenge: the physical security of our members and the travelling public; and the economic security of aviation jobs. Workers and communities that depend on air services cannot take the rap for economic mismanagement or to become further victims of 11 September.

If you could do one thing to improve life for transport workers around the world what would it be?

See that ILO Conventions on the right to organise freely and bargain collectively are implemented throughout the world.

How did you first get involved in the trade union movement?

I was a victim of discrimination at the company I worked for in the late 1960s. I saw the impact of a number of discriminatory practices, mainly against women, and had to become involved in getting changes.


What has been your greatest personal achievement to date?

Being part of getting Frank Lorenzo barred from the airline industry. He was a notorious union-buster in the US airline industry and wreaked havoc on airline workers. I was very proud when the judge cited me as one of those who influenced his decision to deny Lorenzo re-entry into the industry.

What would you like to be remembered for?

Bringing independent unions into the house of labour. The union I was originally in was an “independent” but it had no power, and independent unions often do not have a trade unionist approach to industry issues. When we merged with the IAM, this brought us into the US union centre, the AFL-CIO, and into the ITF. Since then I have worked to bring in other independent unions.

What is the most important lesson you have learned from life?

Success and solidarity begins with respect and tolerance of each other’s views, cultures and customs.

Which trade unionist do you most admire (living or dead)?

Mother Jones. Mary Harris Jones was born in Ireland in 1830 and was known as the “greatest woman agitator of our times”. Her family, who were Irish freedom fighters, was forced to flee to America. She learned a great deal about unions and the psychology of working men from her husband, and she got involved in the struggle of the miners. She was one of the founders of the Industrial Workers of the World. She lived in America when one needed to fight very hard to survive, and she did.

How do you cope with pressure?

By stepping back and giving the situation some space and time.

What is your favourite book?

“To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, I suppose because I read it when very young and it left me with strong impressions. It looks at life in the 1930s South through the eyes of two children whose father defends a black man charged with raping a white woman. It delivers a strong message that even though a person may not be expected to win, you still need to fight for justice. Any book that you can read more than once and still pick up something new has to be a favourite.

What is your most irritating habit, and what most irritates you about other people?

Where to start?! I guess one of the most irritating habits about myself is that I’m early for everything. And the thing that irritates me most about others is that they’re late.