Quantcast

United Airlines flight attendants plan symbolic strike authorization vote amid contract talks

LA Considers $25 And $30 Minimum Wages For Hotel And Airport Workers
Airlines are on the hook for more than you think if something goes wrong with your trip
WA Labor & Industries plans to create new airline worker protections
Airlines must now give automatic refunds for significant delays. Here's what to know.
Spirit Airlines Pursues Bankruptcy as a Path to Tie-Up With Frontier
American Airlines fined $50M for violating disability laws
Canada's flight attendant union applauds NDP bill to end unpaid work in the airline sector
American Airlines testing new technology that would crack down on boarding
Exciting New Airline Routes Coming to North
Another city ignores airport commission's advice, zones for housing near JWA
United shares hit pre-pandemic high after airline forecasts strong finish to 2024, plans buyback
Alaska Airlines Just Made Its Loyalty Program Even More Lucrative With New Rewards, Better Upgrades, and More
Food safety problem closes Detroit airline kitchen leaving 200 flights without meals
5 Reasons Why Kazakhstan's Air Astana Is Establishing Itself As A Key Player In Asian Aviation
JetBlue is no longer serving hot food in economy class on transatlantic flights
Video shows traveler hurl computer monitor at Frontier employees in Chicago
White House 'in touch' with airlines as hurricanes Helene, Milton spark price-gouging fears
Airline bans two items from luggage amid conflict in the Middle East
Turkish Airlines pilot dies midflight, leading to emergency landing in New York
Spirit Airlines Explores Bankruptcy Filing
Airlines turn to AI to allocate gates and cut waiting times
American Airlines Passengers Save Woman from Alleged Violent Male Companion on Flight
Garuda Indonesia and Japan Airlines (JAL) Form Joint Business Agreement — What To Know
Here's how Southwest Airlines' new seating and boarding process will work
Delta Adds New Route to Asia
Southwest Airlines will begin selling assigned seats in 2025
United Airlines Pilot Buys Passengers Pizza In Albuquerque After Flight Was Delayed 7 Hours
Czech Airlines to Cease Operations, Ending 23-Year SkyTeam Partnership
An Asian airline hopes launching one of the world's longest narrowbody routes will actually be a comfort upgrade for passengers
Airlines begin canceling flights, offering rebooking ahead of Hurricane Helene
United Airlines flight attendants plan symbolic strike authorization vote amid contract talks
Research
Webp txr36ytg6uuvd13i8xrjnuempd4m
Gary Leff Chief Financial Officer | View from the Wing

As American Airlines nears the conclusion of contract negotiations with its flight attendants union in Phoenix, United Airlines flight attendants are preparing to escalate their own bargaining efforts.

American Airlines' new contract is expected to be finalized by next week, four and a half years after the previous agreement became amendable. Similarly, United's flight attendants have had an open contract for the same duration, excluding pandemic time. However, their union has remained largely silent, strategically allowing American’s negotiations to set a precedent.

The United Airlines flight attendants union will soon conduct a strike authorization vote. This vote allows the union to signal readiness for a strike but does not permit an actual strike. According to the union, United is delaying negotiations to save on increased wages during this period. The union plans to request retroactive pay similar to what Southwest and American Airlines achieved in their agreements.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

The decision to hold a strike authorization vote is viewed as a tactical move in ongoing negotiations. It symbolizes that flight attendants are prepared for extended bargaining efforts. "Many flight attendants will vote for a strike knowing that it is a positioning tactic for negotiations," stated an anonymous source within the union.

Despite an anticipated 99% approval rate for authorizing a strike, many voting members do not genuinely support striking but aim to maintain negotiation leverage. Following the vote, several procedural steps must occur before any potential strike action can take place: declaration of an impasse by the National Mediation Board (NMB), followed by a 30-day cooling-off period, and subsequent approval of 'self-help' measures. Additionally, Presidential intervention could prevent a strike.

The NMB has shown reluctance to declare an impasse during election periods, particularly under Democratic-majority leadership seeking future appointments and avoiding complications for Presidents.

Historically, major airline strikes in the U.S. have been rare over the past two decades with only two significant occurrences: Northwest mechanics in 2005 and Spirit Airlines pilots in 2010. While threats of strikes are common negotiation tactics, they rarely culminate in actual strikes.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Memphis International Airport (MEM) once served as a significant hub for Delta Air Lines, but today it is primarily recognized as a major cargo hub, known as the FedEx Superhub.

Jul 11, 2025

The United States Air Force (USAF) has formally integrated the Embraer A-29C, also known as the Super Tucano, into its curriculum at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Jul 11, 2025

Porter Airlines, Canada's largest airline without unionized pilots, is facing a potential shift as its pilots are considering joining the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).

Jul 11, 2025

Airport security is a topic often surrounded by myths and misconceptions.

Jul 11, 2025

In early 2024, a significant incident involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 brought attention to Boeing's manufacturing processes.

Jul 11, 2025

On June 28th, an Air France Airbus A350 flight from Paris to Chicago was forced to return after passing Iceland.

Jul 11, 2025