PSA Airlines flight attendants vote on strike authorization

Summary

PSA flight attendants are ready to strike for fair wage increases and benefits equivalent to those of major airlines.
By threatening a strike, the union wants to force the company management to enter into reasonable collective bargaining negotiations.
A “chaos” strike could paralyze PSA Airlines and force management to offer better conditions to flight attendants.

On August 9, the flight attendants’ union at PSA Airlines, a wholly owned regional subsidiary of American Airlines, announced that PSA flight attendants would vote on authorizing a strike.

Why strike?

According to the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), the strike vote comes in response to the offensive proposals made by PSA and American Airlines management during collective bargaining negotiations with flight attendants.

American Eagle, operated by PSA Airlines.

Photo: BravoKiloPhoto | Shutterstock

Flight attendants at PSA Airlines and other regional airlines often struggle to pay basic costs, and some entry-level flight attendants live below the poverty line. That’s disappointing considering American Airlines’ management team often rewards itself with massive bonuses and severance packages while workers suffer.

Lee Wilkes, president of the PSA chapter of the AFA-CWA, which represents over 1,300 PSA flight attendants, said in a statement:

“Without significant improvements, life for flight attendants at PSA is untenable. The cost of living has skyrocketed while our pay is lagging behind. We cannot afford to wait any longer. We are ready to show PSA and American management that we will do whatever it takes to get our contract.”

Contract negotiations between flight attendants and airlines have been a point of contention in recent years. The salaries and benefits offered to flight attendants are often subpar. This is especially true at regional subsidiaries, whose contracts are a fraction of what is offered to mainline airline flight attendants.

Sara Nelson, international president of AFA-CWA, which represents over 55,000 flight attendants at more than 20 airlines, said:

“Flight attendants at PSA and other regional airlines across the industry are fighting to eliminate pay grades in aviation. Flight attendants at PSA wear the same uniforms, fly the same routes and perform the same duties as flight attendants on regular airlines. But the airlines are outperforming them in terms of compensation and benefits.”

The union hopes that the possibility of a strike and the threat of service disruption will force management to offer reasonable contracts that are equivalent to those of the main airline’s flight attendants, or at least in line with the cost of living. Simple Flying has asked PSA and American Airlines for comments on the matter.

An American Airlines plane parked at the gate.

American Airlines reaches preliminary agreement with flight attendants after three years of contract negotiations

The flight attendants had recently asked to be released from mediation.

The iron is hot

In January, PSA flight attendants requested federal mediation. After seven months of delaying tactics, PSA and American Airlines management finally came back with an economic proposal that, according to the union, included outrageous increases in base pay that do not keep up with the cost of living. In addition, flight attendants at the major airlines received significantly better raises and contracts.

Julie Hedrick, APFA National President and members announce results of strike authorization vote on August 30, 2023

Photo: APFA

PSA flight attendants are fighting for a double-digit base salary increase, higher pay for working hours, sick leave, improvements to work rules and other benefits.

The right to strike is triggered when the National Mediation Board (NMB) declares that negotiations are at an impasse and grants both parties a 30-day “cooling off” period. Ballots for the strike will be mailed to the 1,300 flight attendants the union represents. Voting begins August 21 and ends September 17. The strike threat has produced tangible results, moving negotiations forward at major airlines from American Airlines and others.

The disparity in treatment between regional and mainline operators is stark, and the union hopes to end it by using the strike as a bargaining tool. The AFA has trademarked a strike strategy called CHAOS™ (Create Havoc Around Our System).

CHAOS strikes could bring the entire PPE system to a standstill if all flight attendants strike at the same time, or inconvenience the airline by canceling individual flights. The union decides how to proceed and will strike without any notice to management or passengers. The result would be that the airline would quickly lose money as it cannot operate flights and has to compensate passengers for delayed and canceled flights. This is a good incentive to bring them back to the bargaining table.