[US] New contract deal for American Airlines flight attendants

On July 19, a union announced that American Airlines and 28,000 flight attendants had reached a tentative labour agreement, Yahoo reports.

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants, representing the flight attendants, stated that the deal addresses their concerns over compensation, work rules and retroactive pay. However, it did not offer further details.

The tentative agreement was reportedly reached after more than three years of negotiations. It has been sent to the union’s board for review. Once the board approves the deal, members will vote on ratifying it.

Julie Hedrick - the union head - said, “If approved, this agreement will put billions of additional dollars into compensation and work rules for our flight attendant workgroup.”

The White House was reportedly monitoring the talks closely over recent months and had expressed concern about the impact of a work stoppage. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and acting Labor Secretary Julie Su had earlier involvement in the talks.

On the day it was announced, President Biden praised the deal saying it “averts a strike that would have been devastating for the industry and consumers” and demonstrates “once again that collective bargaining benefits workers, companies, and our economy.”

The airline reportedly stated that the contract would provide immediate financial and quality of life improvements for employees.

In June, American Airlines offered flight attendants a new contract with an immediate 17 per cent wage bump and higher profit sharing in 2024. The union rejected the offer.

The flight attendants had authorised their union to call a strike if a deal was not reached. The union had proposed an immediate raise of around 33 per cent, reportedly stating that the flight attendants had not had a pay rise in more than five years and had endured a lot since the pandemic, notably unruly passengers.

Contract negotiations started in January 2020 but were paused at the height of the pandemic, they resumed in June 2021.

Source: Yahoo (via CNN)

(Quotes via original reporting)

On July 19, a union announced that American Airlines and 28,000 flight attendants had reached a tentative labour agreement, Yahoo reports.

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants, representing the flight attendants, stated that the deal addresses their concerns over compensation, work rules and retroactive pay. However, it did not offer further details.

The tentative agreement was reportedly reached after more than three years of negotiations. It has been sent to the union’s board for review. Once the board approves the deal, members will vote on ratifying it.

Julie Hedrick - the union head - said, “If approved, this agreement will put billions of additional dollars into compensation and work rules for our flight attendant workgroup.”

The White House was reportedly monitoring the talks closely over recent months and had expressed concern about the impact of a work stoppage. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and acting Labor Secretary Julie Su had earlier involvement in the talks.

On the day it was announced, President Biden praised the deal saying it “averts a strike that would have been devastating for the industry and consumers” and demonstrates “once again that collective bargaining benefits workers, companies, and our economy.”

The airline reportedly stated that the contract would provide immediate financial and quality of life improvements for employees.

In June, American Airlines offered flight attendants a new contract with an immediate 17 per cent wage bump and higher profit sharing in 2024. The union rejected the offer.

The flight attendants had authorised their union to call a strike if a deal was not reached. The union had proposed an immediate raise of around 33 per cent, reportedly stating that the flight attendants had not had a pay rise in more than five years and had endured a lot since the pandemic, notably unruly passengers.

Contract negotiations started in January 2020 but were paused at the height of the pandemic, they resumed in June 2021.

Source: Yahoo (via CNN)

(Quotes via original reporting)