Flight Attendants Demand Fair Treatment and Recognition in Day of Action
Flight attendants across the United States are taking a stand for their rights and demanding fair treatment in a series of picket protests held at over 30 major airports on Tuesday. This coordinated effort is part of the Worldwide Flight Attendant Day of Action, which aims to draw attention to the challenges faced by flight attendants and advocate for improvements in their working conditions.
Picket line events have been organized in cities such as New York City, Orlando, Miami, San Francisco, Charlotte, Washington DC, Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, Cleveland, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and several others. It is estimated that around 100,000 flight attendants from three different labor unions will participate in these protests.
The primary motivation behind these demonstrations is the ongoing contract negotiations that over two-thirds of flight attendants in the US are currently engaged in. Airlines such as United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Air Wisconsin, American Airlines, Omni, and Frontier are all involved in these negotiations. The flight attendants argue that their jobs have long been undervalued due to a legacy of sexism and that it is time for this discrimination to be eradicated.
“Our time on the job must be compensated. We need retirement security. We need flexibility and control of our lives,” the group stated in a powerful statement released ahead of the event. They believe that it is essential for their work to be recognized and fairly compensated.
The urgency of their demands is evident in the overwhelming support for strike authorizations among flight attendants. In August 2023, 99.47% of the 26,000 flight attendants represented by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) at American Airlines voted in favor of a strike authorization. Similarly, at Air Wisconsin, an American Eagle Carrier, 99% of flight attendants supported a strike authorization. Last month, over 98% of flight attendants at Southwest Airlines also voted in favor of a strike authorization.
The main concern for many flight attendants is the unsustainable wages they receive. Doris Millard, a flight attendant at Air Wisconsin for 44 years, expressed her frustration, stating, “With the wages that we have, it’s just unsustainable. We can’t live off of these wages.” Millard has seen little change in her pay since she started working for the airline in 1980 and feels like she is being forced to give up her career or continue living in poverty.
Flight attendants represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) at United Airlines have taken their fight to federal mediation after months of delays in their contract negotiations. Despite numerous picket protests, progress has been slow. However, there is hope on the horizon as the federal mediator has scheduled the first negotiations session for March 19. A United Airlines spokesperson expressed optimism about reaching an agreement that would benefit their flight attendants.
Meanwhile, flight attendants at Alaska Airlines are eagerly awaiting the results of their strike authorization vote, which will be announced on Tuesday. Melissa Osborne, a flight attendant with 23 years of experience, highlighted the challenges faced by flight attendants in recent years. She mentioned cuts to wages and benefits since the 9/11 tragedy and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on working conditions. Osborne emphasized the need for recognition and support from airlines, stating, “I feel like that level of stress is not being recognized by the company, they’re not recognizing our value and what we do every day.”
Osborne rejected claims from Alaska Airlines that the economic proposals put forth by the union were unfeasible. She pointed out that the airline, along with others, had experienced record profits following the pandemic and had even given pay raises to pilots outside of contract negotiations. She also highlighted Alaska Airlines’ recent deal to acquire Hawaiian Airlines, suggesting that the company had the means to meet the flight attendants’ demands.
What makes these picket protests unique is the solidarity among flight attendants across different unions and airlines. Melissa Osborne explained that flight attendants from various unions and airlines have come together because they are all facing similar challenges and fighting for improvements in the industry as a whole. The idea to organize picket protests across different airlines and unions was inspired by a nationwide women’s strike in Iceland, where Osborne attended in October 2023.
The significance of this united front cannot be overstated. “It’s going to be historic. It’s so impactful to tell companies we see what you’re doing, and we’re going to stand together in solidarity,” Osborne remarked. With her 23 years of experience in the industry, she has never witnessed such a powerful display of unity among flight attendants.
As flight attendants continue to fight for fair treatment and recognition, their picket protests serve as a reminder that their work is essential and deserves to be valued. The Worldwide Flight Attendant Day of Action has brought attention to their cause, and it is clear
