American Airlines flight attendants are considering going on strike during the busy holiday travel season. The flight attendants’ union, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, has asked the National Mediation Board to declare negotiations deadlocked and allow for a strike after a 30-day cooling-off period. However, American Airlines has assured its customers that there is no possibility of a strike during the holidays.
One of the major points of contention for flight attendants is the lack of pay raises. They have not received an increase since 2019 and are frustrated with the lack of progress in negotiations for a new contract. In order to address this, American Airlines has offered an 11% upfront raise with annual increases of 2%. However, the flight attendants’ union is requesting immediate raises of 35% and annual increases of 6%.
In addition to pay raises, the flight attendants’ union is also demanding larger contributions to their 401(k) plans and increased rest time. These issues are part of the ongoing negotiations between the union and American Airlines.
Pilots at Southwest Airlines are also considering striking if a contract deal is not reached in the coming days. Similar to the flight attendants’ union, they are seeking pay raises. It is likely that Southwest pilots will receive raises similar to those given to American Airlines pilots, as it is common for airlines to follow a pattern bargaining process.
Another issue raised by Southwest pilots is the request for premium pay for operating flights that do not have a complete crew. This issue highlights the concerns over staffing and workload that pilots face.
It is important to note that strikes and lockouts are complicated for airline workers due to federal law. Mediators are required to declare negotiations at an impasse before a strike can occur. Furthermore, the president or Congress can intervene and block a strike if they deem it necessary.
Despite the challenges, both the flight attendants’ union and the Southwest pilots’ union remain hopeful for favorable outcomes. They point to advances made by other unions in the aviation industry this year as a positive sign for their negotiations.
In conclusion, American Airlines flight attendants and Southwest pilots are seeking improvements in their contracts, including pay raises and better working conditions. The possibility of a strike looms, but the airlines are assuring their customers that there will be no disruptions during the holiday season. Negotiations are ongoing, and both unions are optimistic for positive resolutions based on previous successes in the industry.
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