American Airlines flight attendants near strike but fail to agree on new collective bargaining agreement

A union representing American Airlines Group flight attendants said Thursday that the latest round of talks with the airline this week failed to result in an agreement.

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), which represents about 28,000 American Airlines flight attendants, said they were closer to a strike because the airline had not presented an agreement in their favor.

However, the airline’s flight attendants cannot stop working until the National Mediation Board (NMB) allows them to do so.

First, the board must determine that both parties have reached an impasse and that further negotiations would not be productive.

This lengthy and complex process makes it extremely difficult for airline workers to go on strike.

Last year, the NMB rejected a union request to be released from federal mediation.

American Airlines told Reuters in an emailed statement on Thursday that the company would continue to negotiate with the union so that its flight attendants could benefit from the contract.

“This agreement is within reach and we look forward to planning further dates,” said the airline spokesman.

The current round of negotiations began in January 2020 but was interrupted at the height of the pandemic. Talks resumed in June 2021.

Earlier this month, the airline offered its flight attendants an immediate 17 percent pay increase in their new contract, but the APFA’s offer was later unanimously rejected.