Additional Coverage:
- American Airlines flight attendants ratify new contract with immediate raises topping 20% (nbcnews.com)
**American Airlines Flight Attendants Approve Five-Year Contract with Raises**
In a significant development, American Airlines flight attendants have approved a new five-year labor contract, concluding a prolonged and contentious negotiation period. This agreement will grant the cabin crews pay raises of up to 20.5%, starting this October.
The deal received overwhelming support, with 87% of voting flight attendants in favor, according to the union’s Thursday announcement, made shortly after the voting concluded.
Julie Hedrick, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, expressed that the contract is a major achievement for the approximately 28,000 cabin crew members it represents. “This contract marks a significant milestone for our flight attendants, providing immediate wage increases of up to 20.5%, along with significant retroactive pay to address time spent negotiating,” she stated.
Flight attendants form the largest unionized workforce at the Fort Worth-based airline. The contract’s approval is a significant relief for American Airlines’ leadership, who had been facing potential strike action.
Previously, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Labor Secretary Julie Su took part in the June negotiations, which were supervised by the National Mediation Board. Over 160 lawmakers had also urged the NMB to expedite agreements throughout the airline industry.
“Reaching an agreement for our flight attendants has been a top priority, and today, we celebrate achieving this important milestone,” American Airlines CEO Robert Isom commented.
Flight attendants, like other airline employees, have been advocating for better pay and improved work conditions, especially after the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent rise in the cost of living.
Meanwhile, United Airlines is still amidst negotiations with its flight attendants’ union for a new contract, and Alaska Airlines’ flight attendants recently turned down a proposed labor deal.
Across various sectors, new contracts with higher pay have been secured, sometimes following strike actions, as seen in the auto industry and Hollywood.
Currently, around 33,000 Boeing workers are voting on a proposed contract that includes 25% raises. If this contract is rejected, Boeing could face a potential strike.