The union trying to organize flight attendants on Virgin America airlines has bought ads in the premiere episode of “Fly Girls” — a new reality show debuting tomorrow night about the glamorous lives of five stewardesses who work for the airline.
The ads, paid for by the Transport Workers Union, tell viewers that the lives of most flight attendants are not so luxurious.
“Virgin is a fun, hip place to work,” says one Virgin America flight attendant who appears in the ad. “However, not all aspects of the job are fun and hip.”
On the show, five female flight attendants share a luxury apartment in San Francisco and hang out with celebrities during their off hours.
“It’s difficult to imagine many Virgin flight attendants affording multi-level apartments with ocean views on wages under $30,000 per year,” the union said in a press release.
“It’s very difficult for many of our team members to find affordable housing in the expensive markets where our flights originate,” says another attendant in the ad. “I still live with my parents in Orange County. I’m lucky.”
The TWU has been trying to organize workers at the airline since last year.
The TV ads coincide with a union campaign at the airline to collect union authorization cards.