Sara Nelson

Sara Nelson has served as the international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO since 2014. She started her career in 1996 as a union Flight Attendant flying with United Airlines. The New York Times calls her “America's most powerful flight attendant” for her role in helping to end the 35-day Government Shutdown (2018–19). 

Under her leadership, AFA, which represents 55,000 of aviation’s first responders at 20 airlines, achieved some of the union’s most significant legislative wins. Aviation was one of the industries not to experience worsening inequality during the pandemic, due in large part to Nelson’s efforts. She designed a payroll-support program that kept aviation workers connected to their paychecks, healthcare, and other benefits while banning stock buybacks and dividends and capping executive compensation for two years after the relief period ended. 

Sara also serves as a member of the AFL-CIO Executive Council, the Communication Workers of America Executive Board, the Transportation Trades Department Executive Board, the Labor Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiations and Trade Policy, and as Chair of the International Transport Workers Federation Civil Aviation Steering Committee, representing nearly 5 million aviation workers worldwide.