Summary PSA flight attendants are ready to strike for fair pay increases and benefits that match mainline carriers. The union hopes to use the threat of a strike to force management into reasonable contract negotiations. A 'CHAOS' strike could cripple PSA Airlines, pushing management to offer better deals to flight attendants.
On August 9th, the union representing the flight attendants at PSA Airlines, a wholly-owned regional subsidiary of American Airlines, reported that PSA flight attendants will take a strike authorization vote. Why strike? According to the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) , the strike authorization vote is in response to the insulting proposals put forward by PSA and American Airlines management during contract negotiations with the flight attendants. Flight attendants at PSA Airlines and other regionals often struggle to pay basic bills, and some entry-level flight attendants are below the poverty line.
This is disappointing, given that American Airlines ' management team often rewards itself with massive bonuses and compensation while the workers suffer. Lee Wilkes, the President of the PSA chapter of AFA-CWA, which represents over 1,300 PSA flight attendants, said in a statement that: “Life at PSA is unsustainable for Flight Attendants without significant improvements. The cost of living has skyrocketed while our pay remains delayed.
We can’t afford to wait any longer. We’re ready to show PSA and American management that we will do whatever it takes to get our contract.” Contract negotiations between flight attendants and airlines have been a point of contention in recent years.
Pay and benefits offered to flight attendants are often subpar. This is especially true for regional subsidiaries, which have contracts that are a fraction of what is offered to the flight attendants of the main airline. Sara Nelson, the International President of AFA-CWA, which represents over 55,000 flight attendants at more than 20 airlines, had this to say: “Flight Attendants at PSA and other regional airlines across the industry are fighting to end tiers in aviation.
PSA Flight Attendants wear the same uniforms, fly the same routes, and perform the same service as mainline Flight Attendants. But airlines leave them behind in compensation and benefits.” The union hopes that the possibility of a strike and the threat of disruption of the airline’s operations will force management to offer reasonable contracts that match those of flight attendants at the main airline or, at the very least, keep up with the cost of living.
Simple Flying has contacted PSA and American Airlines for comments on the matter. The flight attendants had recently requested to be released from mediation. Striking will the iron is hot PSA flight attendants filed for federal mediation in January.
After stalling for seven months, PSA and American Airlines management finally returned with an economic proposal that featured, according to the union, insulting base wage increases that fail to keep up with the cost of living. In addition, flight attendants at mainline carriers received much better increases and contracts. PSA flight attendants are fighting for double-digit base pay increases, increased pay for time at work, sick leave, work rule improvements, and other benefits.
The right to strike is triggered when the National Mediation Board (NMB) declares negotiations are at a deadlock and releases both parties into a 30-day “cooling off” period. The strike vote ballots will be sent to the 1,300 flight attendants the union represents. Voting will open on August 21st and end on September 17th.
The threat of a strike has delivered tangible results and moved negotiations forward at mainline American and other airlines. The differential treatment between the regionals and mainline carriers is stark, and the union hopes to end this using the strike as a bargaining tool. The AFA has trademarked a strike strategy known as CHAOSTM (Create Havoc Around Our System).
CHAOS strikes could cripple the entire PSA system, with all flight attendants striking simultaneously, or inconvenience the airline by shutting down individual flights. The union decides how to proceed and will strike without notice to management or passengers. The result would be the airline losing money rapidly, as it cannot operate flights and will have to compensate passengers for delayed and canceled flights.
This is a good incentive to bring them back to the negotiation table. If approved by the National Mediation Board, American Airlines flight attendants will be able to strike after a 30-day cooling-off period..
