American Airlines flight attendants show outside the White House in Washington, May 9, 2024.
Drew Angerer | AFP | Getty Images
The labor union that represents American Airlines flight attendants on Wednesday rejected an organization proposal to instantly raise pay by 17%.
CEO Robert Isom offered flight attendants immediate 17% wage increases earlier Wednesday as contract talks proceed and not using a deal, bringing the prospect of a strike closer.
The airline and the Association of Skilled Flight Attendants have struggled to achieve a latest contract agreement, differing on major issues, equivalent to pay. Flight attendants have not received contract raises since before the pandemic.
“We have now made progress in numerous key areas, but there continues to be a great deal of labor to be done,” Isom said in a video message to flight attendants.
The union said the 2 sides are scheduled to satisfy with federal mediators next week for a “last-ditch” effort to get a deal done, adding that flight attendants were told to arrange for a strike.
Strikes are extremely rare amongst airline employees. The last took place in 2010 amongst Spirit Airlines pilots. If the 2 parties cannot reach a deal, a release by federal mediators could be triggered, a process that might take several weeks.
“So, to get you more cash now, we presented APFA with a proposal that provides immediate wage increases of 17% and a latest formula that might increase your profit sharing,” Isom said Wednesday. “This implies we have offered increased pay for all flight attendants and are usually not asking your union for anything in return. That is unusual, but these are unusual times.”
Julie Hedrick, the union’s national president, said that the airline’s focus must be on preparing a longer-term take care of the flight attendants.
“This shouldn’t be that,” she said.
Also on Wednesday, the union said it opened a “strike command center” with dedicated phone lines and other resources to reply cabin crew questions.
U.S. airline pilots largely locked in latest labor deals last 12 months, while flight attendants at American, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines are still negotiating.
Last month, a bipartisan group of greater than 160 House representatives wrote to the National Mediation Board, urging it to assist complete deals with airlines and flight attendants.
