United Flight Attendants Vote to Strike, Though It’s Still Unlikely

Flight attendants at United Airlines have voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing a strike, though the likelihood of an airline workers strike is slim. 

Represented by Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), 99.99% of flight attendants voted “yes” to authorizing a strike, with 90.21% of union members participating, if United Airlines does not meet their contract demands. The results were announced on 20 informational picket lines at airports across the country today. 

“We deserve an industry-leading contract. Our strike vote shows we’re ready to do whatever it takes to reach the contract we deserve,” said Ken Diaz, president of the United chapter of AFA. “We are the face of United Airlines and planes don’t take off without us. As Labor Day travel begins, United management is reminded what’s at stake if we don’t get this done.”   

United Airlines flight attendants are asking for a double-digit base pay increase, pay for time at work on the ground, retroactive pay, schedule flexibility and work rule improvements, job security, retirement plan improvements, and more.    

“The United management team gives themselves massive compensation increases while Flight Attendants struggle to pay basic bills,” Diaz said. “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.”   

The AFA coined – and trademarked – the term “CHAOS,” which stands for Create Havoc Around Our System. 

“With CHAOS, a strike could affect the entire system or a single flight,” AFA says. “The union decides when, where and how to strike without notice to management or passengers.” 

Still, an actual strike for airline workers is historically difficult to pull off. The union would need to request a release from the National Mediation Board (NMB), followed by a 30-day “cooling off” period and strike deadline. 

The AFA said that United Flight Attendants had filed for federal mediation over eight months ago and have been working under an amendable contract for nearly three years. 

United Airlines released the following statement regarding the labor action:

“We continue to work toward an industry-leading agreement for our flight attendants, including negotiations this week and every month through November. Both sides have been actively engaged in these negotiations facilitated by the federal mediator requested by the union. We remain eager to reach an agreement.

“To be clear, there is no work stoppage or labor disruption. Instead, off-duty flight attendants are exercising their right to conduct an informational picket. Federal law bars a strike until after a lengthy process that includes a release from mediation, which can only be granted by the National Mediation Board.”