Right now around 66% of all US flight attendants representing 3 labor unions are in negotiations for new contracts with several airlines. As they protest from Los Angeles to New York City and hub airports in between such as Orlando and Miami, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, Las Vegas and Washington DC.
The 100,000 flight attendants work for American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, as well as Air Wisconsin, Omni, and Frontier airline.
At Air Wisconsin, an American Eagle Carrier, flight attendants voted 99% in favor of a strike authorization and over 98% of flight attendants at Southwest Airlines voted in favor of a strike authorization last month. At Alaska Airlines, flight attendants will be announcing their strike authorization vote results today.
Flight attendants represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) at United Airlines filed for federal mediation in December 2023 and have held numerous picket protests amid long delays in their fight for a new union contract.
According to the actionnetwork.org website:
“This moment is not about what uniform we wear: It’s about what unites us, and that unity transcends airlines. Our time on the job must be compensated. We need retirement security. We need flexibility and control of our lives.”
“Legacy sexism that traditionally devalued our jobs must be stamped out and replaced with the true value of our work.”
“Like every other worker around the world, we need to go to work to live, not just live to work.”
“We are ready to do whatever it takes to achieve the landmark contracts that reflect the profits our work creates. Together, 100,000 Flight Attendants are pushing our careers forward this year — battling corporate greed.”
Earlier in the Picketing Process
In mid-August of 2023, over 26,000 flights attendants at American Airlines held informational pickets nationwide with the intention of letting the flying public know that American Airlines needs to bargain for a fair contract with these workers. With 99.47% in favor of a strike, the attendants represented by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) voted to move forward.
At that time, bargaining had already been ongoing for close to a year in which workers were seeking improved job security, safety, wages, and working conditions. Represented were reservations agents, gate and ticket counter agents, customer assistance agents, and club and travel center agents at American Airlines. Many of the workers had not received a raise in nearly 4 years.
(eTN): 30 US Hub Airports Picketed by Flight Attendants | re-post license | post content
