United Airlines flight attendants have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, with more than 90% of union members in the airline's chapter of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) participating in the vote. The result showed near-unanimous support for the strike authorization.
However, this vote does not immediately trigger a strike. The Railway Labor Act, which governs strike actions within the airline industry, requires additional steps before any work stoppage can occur. One key step is the receipt of a formal release from the National Mediation Board (NMB), a process that is still ongoing.
The authorization vote heightens the stakes during the formal mediation sessions between United Airlines and the union, which have been underway for over eight months. This strategy mirrors recent labor negotiations within the airline industry, where flight attendants from Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and American Airlines used similar votes to apply pressure during talks. Both Southwest and Alaska have since secured new labor agreements, and American Airlines has reached a tentative deal with its flight attendants.
United’s current labor agreement with the AFA has been amendable since August 2021, leading the union to file for mediation. The union's demands include a double-digit base pay increase, retroactive pay, compensation for ground time, increased schedule flexibility, and other contract enhancements.
United Airlines has acknowledged the vote but emphasized that it does not signal an imminent strike. The airline stated that it remains committed to reaching an agreement, noting that negotiations, facilitated by a federal mediator, are scheduled to continue through November.
Ken Diaz, president of the United AFA chapter, criticized United's management for awarding themselves significant pay raises while flight attendants face financial challenges. "The 99.99% yes vote is a clear reminder that we are unified in the fight against corporate greed and ready to fight for our fair share of the profits we create," Diaz said.
