American, Southwest unions taking steps toward striking
FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines flight attendants are asking federal officials for the right to go on strike, possibly before the end of the Christmas and New Year’s travel rush, but American said there was “no possibility” of a walkout over the holidays.
Leaders of the flight attendants’ union say they are frustrated with the lack of progress in negotiations over a new contract for workers who have not seen raises since 2019.
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants petitioned the National Mediation Board on Monday to declare the negotiations deadlocked and give the union permission to strike after a 30-day “cooling-off period.”
Meanwhile, pilots at Southwest opened a “strike center” in Dallas this week. Officials with the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association say they, too, will ask for the right to strike if they don’t have a contract deal with the airline in the next few days.
A digital clock on the wall at the pilots’ union headquarters ticked down toward a potential strike Dec. 29.
It is far from certain that either union will go on strike however. Federal law makes it hard for airline workers to walk off the job or for carriers to lock out workers.
Strikes and lockouts are legal only if federal mediators take the rare step of declaring that negotiations are at an impasse and that either side may resort to “self-help.” Even then, the president or Congress can block a strike that might hurt the economy.
The last strike by a U.S. airline union was in 2010, involving pilots at Spirit Airlines.
American disputed the flight attendants’ union claim that negotiations are stalemated. In a statement, the airline said that for months it has been offering the union an “industry-leading economic proposal,” and progress continues on other contract items.
The airline, which is based in Fort Worth, said it is ready to continue working with the union and the National Mediation Board to reach an agreement.
The flight attendants’ union is asking American for immediate raises of 35% and then annual increases of 6% under a three-year deal. American is offering 11% upfront but says it’s 18% including higher pay during the time that passengers board planes, followed by annual increases of 2%. The union also wants bigger 401(k) contributions and increased rest time.
American’s pilots recently won raises of more than 40% over four years.
“We definitely don’t feel any equality here,” said Erik Harris, treasurer of the flight attendants’ union.
Because of pattern bargaining, Southwest pilots are likely to wind up with raises like those approved for American Airlines pilots.
The union at Southwest is asking for slightly higher pay than Boeing 737 pilots at other airlines, arguing that Southwest uses its planes — and pilots — longer per day on average.
The Southwest pilots’ union had asked federal officials in June to release the group from mediation, but mediators refused. Another bargaining session is scheduled next week.