Linda A. Puchala | |
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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 |
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.
Puchala 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]