Flight attendants threaten strikes over low pay and unpaid work
Major US airlines have recovered from Covid-19 pandemic losses and are amassing vast profits, but amid those record-setting financial performances flight attendants are threatening strikes and calling for substantial wage increases and improvements in working conditions. The sums of money are huge. American Airlines reported record quarterly revenue in the second quarter of 2023 at $14.1bn, United Airlines reported record revenue in the same quarter at $14.2bn and a threefold increase in profit, and Alaska Airlines also reported record revenue in the second quarter of 2023 at $2.8b. But workers are also negotiating new contracts and campaigning hard for better pay and conditions. The AFA-CWA represents more than 6,500 flight attendants at Alaska Airlines, who have held pickets at airports in their fight for a new union contract. They are pushing for a 40% wage increase and threatening a possible strike during the 2023 holiday season. The union is still working under a 2014 contract that was extended twice and has requested mediation with the National Mediation Board. Kiara O’Bryant, a Seattle-based flight attendant at Alaska Airlines for over 12 years and negotiating committee member for the union, said flight attendants were currently only paid from door closure until door open on flights. “All of that time we spend with passengers on the ground or sitting and waiting for other aircrafts in between flights goes unpaid,” said O’Bryant. “There are instances where flight attendants are sitting anywhere from two to four hours, what becomes a mechanical rolling delay, where that full time is not accounted for and paid for. So, it’s not just the boarding, but it’s anytime that we are required to be on duty at work in uniform, that we are advocating for pay,” she said.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2023-09-18/general/flight-attendants-threaten-strikes-over-low-pay-and-unpaid-work
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Flight attendants threaten strikes over low pay and unpaid work
Major US airlines have recovered from Covid-19 pandemic losses and are amassing vast profits, but amid those record-setting financial performances flight attendants are threatening strikes and calling for substantial wage increases and improvements in working conditions. The sums of money are huge. American Airlines reported record quarterly revenue in the second quarter of 2023 at $14.1bn, United Airlines reported record revenue in the same quarter at $14.2bn and a threefold increase in profit, and Alaska Airlines also reported record revenue in the second quarter of 2023 at $2.8b. But workers are also negotiating new contracts and campaigning hard for better pay and conditions. The AFA-CWA represents more than 6,500 flight attendants at Alaska Airlines, who have held pickets at airports in their fight for a new union contract. They are pushing for a 40% wage increase and threatening a possible strike during the 2023 holiday season. The union is still working under a 2014 contract that was extended twice and has requested mediation with the National Mediation Board. Kiara O’Bryant, a Seattle-based flight attendant at Alaska Airlines for over 12 years and negotiating committee member for the union, said flight attendants were currently only paid from door closure until door open on flights. “All of that time we spend with passengers on the ground or sitting and waiting for other aircrafts in between flights goes unpaid,” said O’Bryant. “There are instances where flight attendants are sitting anywhere from two to four hours, what becomes a mechanical rolling delay, where that full time is not accounted for and paid for. So, it’s not just the boarding, but it’s anytime that we are required to be on duty at work in uniform, that we are advocating for pay,” she said.<br/>
