American Airlines’ flight attendants union will hold a vote on whether to authorize a strike after years without a pay raise and lengthy negotiations with the airline.
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants board approved the vote on Monday. Voting will begin July 28 and end August 29, with results announced the following day.
“Flight attendants are ready for an agreement that respects our contribution to the success of this airline,” Julie Hedrick, APFA national president, said in a press release. “Our contract became amendable in 2019, and American’s flight attendants have not received cost-of-living increases or other quality of life improvements, despite playing an essential role in keeping American in the air during and after the pandemic.”
Negotiations between the union – which represents more than 26,000 American Airlines flight attendants – were paused due to the pandemic but resumed in 2021. The airline and the union had requested federal mediation in the collective bargaining negotiations in March.
The APFA vote came after members of the Allied Pilots Association, which represents American Airlines pilots, voted to strike in April.
Why would American Airlines flight attendants go on strike?
According to APFA, flight attendants have not received a pay raise since January 2019, and the union is demanding significant pay increases.
The union has proposed an immediate 35% wage increase, followed by a 6% annual increase in subsequent years. APFA is also demanding 82 guaranteed paid hours per month for reserve flight attendants – up from 75 – a higher 401(k) contribution and match, and more.
Hedrick said in a Video message Tuesday that American Airlines management had not responded to its economic proposal submitted in March.
“We look forward to reaching an agreement with the APFA quickly so that American’s flight attendants can benefit from a contract that provides them with real and meaningful value,” American said in an emailed statement. “We continue to meet regularly and appreciate the recent support of the National Mediation Board as both American and the APFA work to reach a settlement that our flight attendants deserve.”
Will American Airlines flight attendants go on strike?
Just because a strike is authorized does not mean it is imminent.
“Almost every time a strike is voted on, it passes,” said Scott Keyes, founder of Going, formerly known as Scott’s Cheap Flights, in an email. “That’s not because a strike is likely, but because it’s a negotiating tactic that strengthens the union’s position.”
The Railroad Labor Code requires management and unions to go through a “long series of steps,” including mediation and cooling-off periods, before a strike can occur, Keyes said. In a number of recent cases, pilot unions have reached collective bargaining agreements with management in the months following a vote to authorize a strike.
“Travelers have a lot of concerns – from flight disruptions to high airfares – but an attempted walkout by airline unions should be at the bottom of the list,” Keyes said.
Nathan Diller is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. Reach him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: AA flight attendants to vote on strike authorization
