American Airlines flight attendants have unanimously approved a strike in an effort to secure a new labor agreement and higher compensation.
Over 26,000 employees of the carrier are represented by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, which said that 99% of the vote was in favor of going on strike if talks with the airline do not result in appreciable improvements. The vote, however, does not indicate that a strike is about to occur or even likely. Federal law mandates that a mediator assess whether more discussions will not result in a new agreement; this action is uncommon.
The result, however, indicates to American Airlines that its flight attendants—who haven’t earned a raise since 2019—are “fired up” and prepared for a new labor agreement, according to Union President Julie Hedrick.
“They ignore this strike vote at their peril,” Hedrick said in a statement. “Our contributions to the success of American Airlines must be recognized and respected.”
There may be a walkout by employees at other airlines besides American. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association said earlier this year that 99% of the airline’s pilots had voted in favor of authorizing a strike by the workers they represent.
Prior to the busiest travel season, United’s pilots also began to picket until the airline agreed to increase their pay by 40% over the following four years.