American Airlines flight attendants’ latest bargaining session with the aviation company ended Thursday without an agreement, and the union is preparing to strike.
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), which represents 28,000 American Airlines flight attendants, had several of its members picketing outside of airports across the country, including DFW airport, last week during the ongoing negotiations, reported The Dallas Morning News.
Julie Hedrick, APFA president and career flight attendant, issued a press release following the failed negotiations on June 20.
“After years of bargaining, including almost a year of mediated talks with the assistance of the National Mediation Board, and despite the Union’s best efforts, American Airlines did not come to the table with an agreement that adequately compensates American’s 28,000 Flight Attendants,” Hendrick said. “Flight Attendants will move the process forward to secure overdue economic improvements.”
“Flight Attendants at American Airlines will continue internal preparations to strike American Airlines guided by the negotiations process for airline and rail workers under the Railway Labor Act (RLA),” the statement continues.
Negotiations have been ongoing since January 2020. Earlier this month, the airline offered to increase flight attendants’ wages by 17% in addition to a profit-sharing agreement, but the union struck that offer down, according to DMN.
Despite the pushback from the union, American Airlines issued a statement expressing confidence in the ongoing negotiations.
“We made good progress in negotiations this week, adding even more to the industry leading proposal we’ve had on the table for months. We look forward to continuing negotiations so our flight attendants can benefit from the contract they deserve,” said the statement, per Fox Business.
The Railway Labor Act outlines several steps that would need to take place in order for American Airlines flight attendants to strike. According to the Federal Railroad Administration, “The [National Mediation Board] can keep the parties in mediation indefinitely, so long as it feels there is a reasonable prospect for settlement.”
In November, American’s flight attendants authorized the strike and the National Mediation Board (NMB) denied a request by the union to strike, as reported by The Dallas Express. Before any strike can begin, the union would need to petition the NMB for permission, and a 30-day cooling-off period would have to elapse.
American Airlines has been facing growing criticism for its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion practices as well as environmental, social, and governance measures, as previously reported by DX.