Flight attendants for American Airlines (AA) picketed at airports across the country on Tuesday.
Contract negotiations between American Airlines and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), which represents more than 25,000 AA flight attendants, have been drawn out and contentious, with neither side willing to budge.
The continued failure to reach a deal prompted AA flight attendants to picket across 11 U.S. airport hubs this week. These included DFW, Miami, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Phoenix, among others.
Tuesday’s nationwide picket marked the second time AA flight attendants have staged a protest in three months. The last picket occurred at DFW International Airport in November, where flight attendants could be seen with signs reading, “We are ready for rest,” and, “Tired of delays? We are too.”
AA flight attendants are seeking a host of changes, including better pay, improved work-life quality, and more control over their schedules. The group’s key issues revolve around compensation, expenses, vacation, sick leave, scheduling, and hours of service.
To attain these wanted changes, the APFA is using picketing protests as a means to raise pressure on American Airlines’ management.
“Negotiations are reaching a critical phase: Time for AA management to step up and bring these negotiations to a close,” tweeted the APFA.
The shortage of pilots and flight attendants is leading to a mismatch in job expectations, suggested APFA Vice President Larry Salas.
“We need more flight attendants like we need more pilots,” said Salas. “Flight attendants are doing more flying than they did before the pandemic and the company can’t hire flight attendants fast enough.”
American Airlines assured travelers that no general disruptions would occur during the APFA’s nationwide picketing event.
“Picketing events like the one taking place today aren’t out of the ordinary during contract negotiations and will have no impact on our operation,” Timothy Wetzel, American Airlines spokesman, said in a statement. “American remains committed to reaching a contract that’s good for our flight attendants and our airline. We continue to meet regularly with the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, have made meaningful progress, and continue to make reaching a new agreement our highest priority.”
A complete list of APFA picket locations can be viewed here.
