CHICAGO- United Airlines (UA) flight attendants initiate a strike authorization vote due to ongoing contract negotiation frustrations. This marks the first such vote since the 2005 bankruptcy negotiations.
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) represents 28,000 United flight attendants in this action.
United Airlines Flight Attendants Strike
Ken Diaz, president of the United chapter of AFA-CWA, emphasizes the urgency for an industry-leading contract.
He states that flight attendants struggle with basic expenses while management receives significant compensation increases.
BREAKING: @AFAUnitedMEC Flight Attendants announce strike authorization vote.
“There is no time to waste. Our negotiations are at a critical state, the issues are clear, and the time to act is now.”
#ContractNow #PayUsOrCHAOS https://t.co/DZlxiXJZSA
— AFA-CWA (@afa_cwa) July 16, 2024
#ContractNow #PayUsOrCHAOS https://t.co/DZlxiXJZSA
United flight attendants filed for federal mediation nearly eight months ago and have worked under an amendable contract for almost three years. The strike vote demonstrates their unity in pursuing fair contract terms.
Voting opens on August 1, 2024, and closes on August 28, 2024, coinciding with Labor Day travel. Recent strike authorization votes at Alaska (AS), Southwest (WN), and American Airlines (AA) have accelerated negotiations.
CHAOS Strike
AFA employs a unique strike strategy called CHAOS
(Create Havoc Around Our System). This approach allows for targeted strikes on specific flights or the entire system without prior notice.
The National Mediation Board must declare negotiations deadlocked and initiate a 30-day “cooling off” period before a strike can legally occur.
United flight attendants demand significant improvements, including double-digit base pay increases, increased compensation for ground time, retroactive pay, schedule flexibility, improved work rules, job security, and enhanced retirement benefits.
This strike authorization vote reflects the growing tension between airline management and flight crews across the industry. It highlights the ongoing struggle for fair compensation and working conditions in a sector that has seen rapid recovery and profitability following the pandemic-induced downturn.
The potential for strike action could have significant implications for United Airlines’ operations and the broader air travel industry. It underscores the critical role flight attendants play in airline operations and their determination to secure favorable contract terms.
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