Several dozen American Airlines flight attendants demonstrated in front of the White House on Thursday, as part of a broad mobilization to demand respect for their right to strike and better wages.
“Flight attendants are asking for help from U.S. elected officials and the White House to restore their right to strike,” said the Association of Professional Hostesses and Stewards (APFA), which represents more than 27,000 workers in this category. American Airlines, in a press release.
They are “the only American Airlines employees who have not had a raise in five years,” the union noted, confirming that boss Robert Isom had received more than $31 million in 2023.
American Airlines assured in a statement to AFP that reaching an agreement “remains (its) priority.”
“We continue to meet regularly with the APFA and we recently revised our offer upwards with an immediate increase of 25%,” the company added, saying it was “ready to reach an agreement quickly.”
According to her, management “will be back at the negotiating table next week to do it.”
The union and the airline have been in talks for six months as part of mediation to develop the new collective labor agreement, which should succeed the collective labor agreement that has been in force since 2014.
At the end of August, union members approved the principle of a strike by 99.47% – with a participation rate of 93%. The union had set a deadline of November 13 to reach an agreement, otherwise it would declare a strike.
But since the negotiations are taking place under the auspices of the National Conciliation Commission (NMB), the union must obtain prior approval. A work stoppage can only take place thirty days after this green light.
The APFA submitted its request on November 20, but has still not received satisfaction, hence the mobilizations on Thursday in front of the White House and the company’s headquarters in Dallas (Texas), as well as at a dozen airports (Boston, Miami, Chicago , Los Angeles). Angeles, New York JFK, Philadelphia…).
They are “claiming their right to strike, an important step in reaching a new collective agreement” with the company, he continued, calling on Joe Biden, who describes himself as “the most union-friendly president.”
The APFA had already organized a mobilization on November 14. These movements generally do not disrupt the carrier’s operations.
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