1.19.24 – Negotiations Update #47: Mediation Release Request

Friday, January 19, 2024

This week, APFA National President Julie Hedrick submitted a request to the National Mediation Board (NMB) stating that contract negotiations are at an impasse and Flight Attendants should be free to strike American Airlines. The letter requested a meeting with NMB members to advance our case that negotiations are deadlocked, and that they should issue a proffer of arbitration/release to strike. This would start the clock on a 30-day cooling-off period, after which Flight Attendants would be free to strike American Airlines.

The process under the Railway Labor Act sets no timeframe for the NMB to act on our request as the decision to release us is solely within the discretion of the mediation board. While we believe we should be free to strike right now, the Railway Labor Act is the law which governs our negotiations. The last group of airline workers released to strike were Spirit Pilots in 2010. We are going to aggressively pursue our right to strike but also keep up the pressure on American Airlines.

The Company can settle this dispute at any time and we must keep the pressure up. Make a plan to join our February 13th Worldwide Flight Attendant Day of Action picketing event and RSVP here. These picketing events are crucial to keeping our message and our fight at the forefront of the media and the public.

As the process continues, both parties are required to continue negotiations. Our next negotiation session is scheduled for the week of February 5th, 2024. We will keep the pressure on until we secure long overdue contractual improvements.

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]