12.18.23 – Negotiations Update #45: Bargaining Update

Monday, December 18, 2023

Your APFA Negotiations team met in federally supervised mediation in Tampa, Florida, December 12th-14th. As we have previously reported, once we are in federal mediation, the timing and location of negotiations are controlled by the federal mediators.

During this week of mediation, we focused on resolving outstanding issues in several remaining sections that have unresolved issues from earlier in bargaining. We reached an agreement on Section 27, Injury on Duty (IOD). One of the remaining sticking points was reaching an agreement on the continued accrual of longevity for the entire duration of the IOD leave and any subsequent related medical leave. For the affected Flight Attendants who were injured on duty, resolving this loss of longevity was a matter of basic fairness.

We are also continuing to press the issues in other sections, including Section 16, Deadheading, where we are looking for a better procedure for changing deadheads back to base and to commuter cities. While we are pushing to resolve the overall economic issues, other concerns must be addressed, which is why we are aggressively pushing these issues.

At this mediation session, American Airlines management did not come forward with another economic proposal. That is unacceptable. On the one hand, the company argues to the National Mediation Board we are not at an impasse, but they refuse to make an improved offer. As we have made clear to management at the negotiation table, their framework does not and will not work. To reach an agreement, they will need to adopt an economic framework that meets the needs of the Flight Attendants.

Our next negotiation session is scheduled for January 9th to 11th in DFW.

Next Steps

We are not giving up our struggle until we secure the contract that Flight Attendants deserve. Through seven pickets over the last year, an overwhelming strike vote, dozens of media articles, and countless actions, American Airlines Flight Attendants have demonstrated our commitment to fighting for the contract we deserve.

After our next bargaining session, we will assess whether to reiterate our request to be released into a thirty-day cooling-off period so we can exercise our right to strike. Some may say, why don’t we send in a letter now? But we are not looking for another quick no; we are looking for a changed answer. The Board is looking for the negotiations to be at an impasse and that the parties have exhausted every avenue to reach an agreement prior to releasing us to strike. However, if management is unwilling to provide a new economic proposal, then we should be able to exercise our right to strike.

One of the issues we face is that we believe it has become too difficult for airline workers to be released to strike under the Railway Labor Act. This is not how the law was supposed to work, and airline employers like American Airlines should not be able to hide behind the law. Changing this will require a strategic approach and collaboration with other airline Unions.

Join Alaska Flight Attendants Tomorrow for a Day of Solidarity

Stand with Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants at their Day of Solidarity informational picketing in all six Alaska Flight Attendant bases and Washington, D.C. tomorrow, December 19th, 2023. More info on times, locations, and RSVP here:

AFA Alaska Airlines Day of Solidarity Informational Picketing- Tuesday, December 19th, 2023

Continue to wear your red WAR pin, red lanyard, and bag tags until we secure the contract we’ve earned.

In Solidarity,

Your APFA Negotiating Committee

Reese Cole
Kelly J. Hagan
Julie Hedrick
Timothy Legeros
Brian Morgan
Wendy Oswald
Susan Wroble
Joe Burns, Lead Negotiating Attorney

[email protected]