American Airlines flight attendants strike still looms

Collective bargaining between American Airlines and its flight attendants continues. The Association of Professional Flight Attendants said Tuesday that An agreement still needs to be reached but that things are getting a little closer. Since the fear of a 17% immediate wage increase While they pushed for a 33% pay increase, the flight attendants demonstrated at airports nationwide and urged an end to the mediation talks, which initiate a strike.

“Despite all of these efforts, we have not yet reached a tentative agreement. We continue to disagree on key issues, including the date of signing the wage increases and a number of other key issues,” the union said. “While we have made progress on these areas, we will not sell ourselves short and will fight for the contract that American Airlines flight attendants deserve.”

The flight attendants were almost unanimous approved a strike in Augustbut they did not carry out this threat because their contract negotiations more strictly regulated than other types of unions. Their bargaining process is regulated by the Railway Workers’ Labor Law, which imposes stricter regulations on workers when they affect areas considered critical to the economy.

Under the RLA, the administration has kept the APFA in federally brokered negotiations, with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Labor Secretary Julie Su sticking their heads in the negotiations. But even if the union were to be released from those negotiations in the event of an impasse, the move would trigger a 30-second “cooling off period” and invite President Joe Biden to intervene like a railway strike in 2022. However, the union said American sweetened the offer during intense negotiations. The airline did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“Under the Railroad Labor Law, the National Conciliation Board will let the parties negotiate for as long as it sees the potential for an agreement,” the union explained in its latest update. “This means if the company invests tens or hundreds of millions more in the agreement, the NMB will keep the pressure on both parties to reach an agreement. While we disagree on how long or how difficult it is to exercise our right to strike, the NMB will demand further negotiations if there is movement.”

American and the union will meet outside Washington, DC, next week to reach a tentative agreement.