US lawmakers urge mediation board to help flight attendants reach labor deals

More than 160 U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday urged the National Mediation Board to take steps to help about 80,000 flight attendants reach new contract deals. Flight attendants at United Airlines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Frontier are among workers at more than a dozen airlines still working to reach new contract deals. The airlines and the board did not comment or immediately respond to requests for comment on the letter. The bipartisan group of 168 lawmakers led by Democratic Representative Melanie Stansbury said flight attendants have been stuck in prolonged contract negotiations for years and urged the board "to use all of the tools at its disposal to encourage the resolution of these negotiations." Others signing the letter include Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick, Debbie Dingell, Donald Norcross, Steven Horsford and Mark Pocan. “Deadlines are critical for negotiations. Airlines have delayed earned improvements by as much as five years while awarding CEOs and other executives,” said Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA representing over 50,000 at 20 airlines. "Clearly, a credible strike threat is needed to settle these disputes." Last month, flight attendants and United management were in the a new round of federally-mediated bargaining after two years of negotiations.<br/>