Union Unanimously Rejects American Airlines Wage Proposal, Pushes for a Complete Contract and 33% Raise Instead

By Moon Harper

Jun 06, 2024 01:08 AM EDT

America Airlines — (Photo : Unsplash/Damian Hutter )

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), representing more than 23,000 American flight attendants, announced on Wednesday that it unanimously rejected American Airlines' newest proposal.

Union's Rejection of American Airlines' Pay Bump Proposal

CEO Robert Isom stated earlier in the day that the airline had proposed immediate wage increases of 17% for its flight attendants, along with a new profit-sharing formula slated for 2024, as part of their new contracts.

The union noted that the recent salary increase offer was made without finalizing an agreement on a comprehensive contract, emphasizing that American Airlines Flight Attendants need to have a complete contract that addresses all their concerns. The APFA emphasized its resolute stance, citing a strike vote authorization of 99.47% and months of picketing as demonstrations of its solidarity and determination. It reiterated its crystal clear message for an industry-leading contract.

The current round's negotiations, which originated back in January 2020, were halted during the peak of the pandemic and resumed in June 2021, where the union has instructed its workers to prepare themselves for a potential strike following the failure of negotiations last month to yield an agreement.

Flight Attendants are Pushing for a Complete Contract

American Airlines flight attendants assert that they have not received a salary increase for over five years and are requesting an immediate raise of approximately 33%. Union representatives also highlighted the challenges faced by flight attendants during the pandemic, including dealing with unruly passengers who resist the mask mandate enforced on planes, as significant factors contributing to their demands.

American Airlines and the union are scheduled to reconvene negotiations next week. The APFA has formally petitioned for release from federally mediated negotiations, citing America's offers as consistently inadequate in meeting the demands of the prevailing economic conditions.

Airline employee strikes are highly uncommon occurrences, with the most recent notable instance happening in 2010 involving Spirit Airlines pilots. Should the negotiations between American Airlines and its flight attendants fail to produce a resolution, the involvement of federal mediators would be activated, initiating a process that typically spans several weeks.

The Tension Between American Airlines and Union's Stances

Isom stated on Wednesday that American Airlines proposed a plan offering wage hikes of 17% alongside a revised profit-sharing formula to provide flight attendants with immediate financial benefits. He emphasized that this proposal entailed increased pay without requesting anything from the union in return, adding, "This is unusual, but these are unusual times."

Julie Hedrick, the union's national president, emphasized the importance of American Airlines concentrating on crafting a comprehensive, longer-term agreement with the flight attendants, clarifying that the current proposal is not that.

Also on Wednesday, the union announced the establishment of a "strike command center," equipped with dedicated phone lines and other resources, to address inquiries from cabin crew members.