The labor union that represents American Airways flight attendants on Wednesday rejected a company proposal to straight away raise pay back by 17%.
CEO Robert Isom offered flight attendants speedy 17% wage will increase previously Wednesday as agreement talks go on with no a deal, bringing the prospect of a strike nearer.
The airline and the Affiliation of Expert Flight Attendants have struggled to arrive at a new deal agreement, differing on significant problems, these as fork out. Flight attendants have not received agreement raises because before the pandemic.
“We have built development in a number of essential locations, but there is nonetheless a fantastic deal of get the job done to be finished,” Isom claimed in a video clip message to flight attendants.
The union explained the two sides are scheduled to meet up with with federal mediators up coming week for a “last-ditch” effort to get a offer done, including that flight attendants were explained to to get ready for a strike.
Strikes are extremely rare amid airline staff. The final took location in 2010 among Spirit Airways pilots. If the two parties just cannot arrive at a offer, a release by federal mediators would be triggered, a system that would get various months.
“So, to get you additional revenue now, we offered APFA with a proposal that features speedy wage boosts of 17% and a new formula that would boost your earnings sharing,” Isom stated Wednesday. “This implies we’ve made available greater shell out for all flight attendants and are not asking your union for anything at all in return. This is strange, but these are uncommon instances.”
Julie Hedrick, the union’s countrywide president, mentioned that the airline’s aim should really be on preparing a for a longer time-phrase offer with the flight attendants.
“This is not that,” she claimed.
Also on Wednesday, the union explained it opened a “strike command center” with focused phone lines and other means to response cabin crew concerns.
U.S. airline pilots mainly locked in new labor discounts final yr, although flight attendants at American, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines are nevertheless negotiating.
Past thirty day period, a bipartisan group of far more than 160 Residence reps wrote to the Nationwide Mediation Board, urging it to help complete discounts with airlines and flight attendants.
