United Airlines flight attendants have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike.
The airline’s flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), voted 99.99 percent in favor of strike authorization, with 90.21 percent participation, if “management does not agree on significant improvements,” according to a press release from the organization.
The election results were simultaneously announced live at nearly 20 information points at airports across the country.
“We deserve an industry-leading contract. Our strike vote shows we are willing to do whatever it takes to get the contract we deserve,” said Ken Diaz, president of the United affiliate of the AFA, according to today’s press release. “We are the face of United Airlines and planes don’t take off without us. As travel begins on Labor Day, United management is reminded of what is at stake if we don’t get this done.”
This is the first time that flight attendants at this major airline have voted to authorize a strike since bankruptcy negotiations in 2005.
In addition, the organizations support that other recent votes to authorize a strike have helped negotiations move forward at American, Alaska, Southwest and other airlines.
United Airlines flight attendants are demanding a double-digit increase in their base salary, pay for time worked on the ground, retroactive pay to the change date, more flexible hours and improvements to work rules, job security, retirement and more.
“United’s management team is giving themselves massive raises while flight attendants are struggling to pay basic bills,” Diaz added.
According to Reuters, the Chicago-based airline employs more than 28,000 flight attendants.
In its statement released today, the union added that it can now apply to the National Mediation Board (NMB) for dismissal, which will result in a 30-day “cooling off” period and a strike notice period.
Although a strike has now been approved, the flight attendants cannot stop working until they receive permission from the NMB. The board, for its part, must determine that the parties have reached a deadlock and that further negotiations between the flight attendants and United Airlines would be futile, according to Reuters.
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