United Airlines flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), voted on Wednesday to authorize a strike “should management fail to agree to significant improvements.” Over 90 percent of flight attendants voted with 99.99 percent voting in favor of a strike. The results of the vote were announced live, simultaneously, on nearly 20 informational picket lines at airports across the country.
United flight attendants are demanding significant double-digit base pay increase, pay for time at work on the ground, retroactive pay to the amendable date, schedule flexibility and work rule improvements, job security, retirement and more.
This is the first time since the 2005 bankruptcy negotiations that flight attendants at airline voted on strike authorization. Recent strike authorization votes have propelled negotiations forward at American, Alaska, Southwest, and other airlines, including potentially Frontier.
When reached for a comment, a spokesperson for United told Travel Agent, “We continue to work toward an industry-leading agreement for our flight attendants, including negotiations this week and every month through November. Both sides have been actively engaged in these negotiations facilitated by the federal mediator requested by the union. We remain eager to reach an agreement.
“To be clear, there is no work stoppage or labor disruption. Instead, off-duty flight attendants are exercising their right to conduct an informational picket. Federal law bars a strike until after a lengthy process that includes a release from mediation, which can only be granted by the National Mediation Board.”
Speaking on behalf of flight attendants, Ken Diaz, president of the United chapter of AFA, said, “We deserve an industry-leading contract. Our strike vote shows we’re ready to do whatever it takes to reach the contract we deserve. We are the face of United Airlines and planes don’t take off without us. As Labor Day travel begins, United management is reminded what’s at stake if we don’t get this done.”
Diaz continued: “The United management team gives themselves massive compensation increases while Flight Attendants struggle to pay basic bills. The 99.99 percent yes vote is a clear reminder that we are unified in the fight against corporate greed and ready to fight for our fair share of the profits we create.”
To that point: United CEO Scott Kirby’s salary in 2023 was $18.6 million—nearly double his $9.8 million salary in 2022 and 2021, according to salary.com.
As for when this strike could happen, that’s a bit less clear. Now that members have authorized a strike, the union could request a release from the National Mediation Board leading to a 30-day "cooling off" period and strike deadline. Following this timeframe, flight attendants would be clear to strike. AFA has a trademarked strike strategy known as CHAOS, or “Create Havoc Around Our System,” which it claims could affect the entire system or just a single flight. The union decides when, where and how to strike without notice to management or passengers.
United flight attendants filed for federal mediation over eight months ago and have been working under an amendable contract for nearly three years.
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