American Airlines flight attendants vote for a strike. Will strike happen?

In what may be seen as an attempt to put pressure on the management, flight attendants at American Airlines have overwhelmingly approved the union to take a decision to call for a strike. The strike may not be imminent, but it will increase the bargaining power of the union and put pressure on the management. Confirming the vote, Julie Hedrick, Association of Professional Flight Attendants said on Wednesday that more than 99 percent of members have favored a strike. The union members picketed at many offices of the airlines.

No wage hike since 2019

Julie Hedrick said that the flight attendants of American Airlines have not received a pay hike since 2019 and now the executives will ignore the demand at their own peril. She also said that the vote is one of the ways in which the flight attendants of the airlines can express their desire to get a deal done.

Is strike imminent?

It may be noted that the vote authorizing the union to give a call for a strike does not mean that a strike is imminent, nor does it mean that the strike is possible. According to federal laws, a call for a strike can be given only after the federal meditators say that further talks are pointless. But it rarely happens. Further, Congress and the president can also delay the strike or block it altogether.

The flight attendants have voted to authorize the union to decide on a strike after the union of pilots signed a deal with the management allowing a 40 percent pay hike over four years. But the pilots are fewer in number than required and this gives them the leverage that the flight attendants don’t have.

FAQs:

Q1. What have the flight attendants done in the vote held recently?
A1. The flight attendants of American Airlines have voted overwhelmingly authorizing the union to decide on giving a call for a strike. This will put the management under pressure and the unions will have more leverage for negotiation.

Q2. Will the flight attendants of American Airlines go on strike?
A2. Merely voting for a strike does not mean that a strike is imminent. According to federal laws, a strike call can be given only after the federal mediators say that the talks are pointless. It happens rarely.