The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) announced on Wednesday that American Airlines flight attendants have voted to authorize a strike if the company refuses to agree on “reasonable” contract terms.
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The vote was overwhelmingly in favor of the strike, with 99.47% of the flight attendants represented by the labor union supporting it. APFA, which represents over 26,000 flight attendants at the carrier, stated that flight attendants are ready for a contract and that the company should take the strike vote seriously.
If the union and the company fail to reach an agreement in federal mediation, APFA could request a 30-day cooling-off period before the attendants can begin a strike. The decision to take this action comes as union workers, including pilots, employees, and delivery drivers, are gaining more bargaining power due to a tight labor market and an increase in public support for unions.
Just last week, American Airlines pilots approved a new contract that includes more than $9.6 billion in total pay and benefits increases over four years in an effort to compete with rivals United Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Airlines have been in a rush to staff up to meet the high travel demand, which has given workers the opportunity to negotiate for higher salaries and better working conditions.