U.S. Flight Attendants Threaten Strikes

Flight attendants are threatening strikes and calling for substantial wage increases and improvements in working conditions, after major U.S. airlines are reporting vast profits, post COVID-19.

The Guardian reported September 17 that workers are negotiating new contracts and campaigning hard for better pay and conditions, including the AFA-CWA, which represents more than 6,500 flight attendants at Alaska Airlines, and more than 25,000 flight attendants at United Airlines.

They are demanding a 40% wage increase — similar to the auto-workers UAW, which is currently engaged in strikes — and threatening a possible strike during the 2023 holiday season.

The union provided annual pay estimates for Alaska Airlines flight attendants, with average base pay ranging from $24,000 to $27,000 a year, which they note is not nearly enough to keep up with the high cost of living, especially in expensive cities where Alaska Airlines bases are located, including San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, about 26,000 flight attendants at American Airlines represented by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike with a vote of 99.47% in favor of the authorization. Those flight attendants are pushing for a 35% wage increase.

Flight attendants at United Airlines want the airline to resolve under-staffing and outstanding operational issues.

Air crew are demanding fairer share of vast profits from Alaska Airlines, American and United. American Airlines reported record quarterly revenue in the second quarter of 2023 at $14.1bn, United Airlines reported record revenue in the same quarter at $14.2bn and a threefold increase in profit, and Alaska Airlines also reported record revenue in the second quarter of 2023 at $2.8bn.

Under the Railway Labor Act, a strike cannot be called until the National Mediation Board releases the union and airline into a 30-day cooling-off period before a strike can be called. The last strike by American Airlines flight attendants was in November 1993.