Summary Nearly 100% of United Airlines flight attendants voted in favor of strike authorization. The Association of Flight Attendants accused United of corporate greed. The flight attendants are demanding higher wages & better working conditions.
United Airlines flight attendants rallied at airports across the country on Wednesday, demanding increased wages and better working conditions. The results of a strike authorization vote by the union was nearly 100%, and announced at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) . United has maintained that “there is no work stoppage or labor disruption.
” The strike authorization is reportedly the first time the inflight workers have voted on such a proposal in nearly two decades. “The flight against corporate greed” Ken Diaz, the President of AFA’s United Chapter, spoke about the vote in a statement obtained by Houston local NBC affiliate KPRC . “The United management team gives themselves massive compensation increases while Flight Attendants struggle to pay basic bills,” Diaz said “The 99.
99% 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.” The Chicago-based airline told Simple Flying on Wednesday that negotiations have been ongoing to form a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). “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.” What is requested in the new contract The flight attendants’ union, the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) said it filed for federal mediation more than eight months ago, while its members have been working under an amendable contract for nearly three years, according to ABC 7 Chicago .
The airline said its staff are allowed to "represent their pride." The union is requesting that a new contract reportedly includes a double-digit base pay increase, higher wages for time at work including on the ground, retroactive pay to the amendable date, flexible schedules, job security, and retirement benefits. With the strike being authorized, the flight attendants must still show up for work as industrial action must be approved by the National Mediation Board (NMB).
Union members will evaluate the contract negotiations and if both parties cannot find common ground and the negotiations come to a stalemate, the board will grant permission for a strike. “We deserve an industry-leading contract. Our strike vote shows we’re ready to do whatever it takes to reach the contract we deserve,” Diaz explained.
“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.” What’s CHAOS? The AFA may choose to request a release from the NMB that would trigger a “cooling-off” period for 30 days.
This would establish a strike deadline. However, the union has trademarked a strike strategy, known as CHAOS (Create Havoc Around Our System) that could prompt flexible and unpredictable industrial actions, according to KPRC. Whether it is a single flight, or United’s entre system, CHAOS could keep strike details – such as the timing and nature – a secret from both management and passengers.
The last time United’s flight attendants voted on strike authorization was in 2005 when the carrier was undergoing bankruptcy negotiations. It comes as other airlines, such as American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Southwest Airlines have also faced strike authorization votes from their flight attendants in a push for new contracts. The airline has since launched an investigation into the cause of the incident.
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