4.15.24 – Negotiations Update #52: April 15, 2024

Monday, April 15, 2024

Negotiations Update #52

On March 13th, APFA met with the members of the National Mediation Board (NMB) at a formal status conference to brief the Board members on the status of our bargaining and to discuss our request for a release. The company met separately with the NMB. As previously reported, the Board, while continuing to evaluate APFA’s request to be released into a thirty (30) day cooling off period, has directed the parties back to the bargaining table to redouble our efforts to reach an agreement.  Click here to read more about the status conference update.

Last week, your APFA Negotiating Committee met with the company in mediated talks in DFW. At the session, per the recommendation of the mediation board, APFA put forward a comprehensive proposal to the company that focused on the remaining key areas in dispute. The company received the proposal and indicated that they would need time to analyze the proposal and develop a counterproposal at our next session, which is in two weeks. The ball is squarely in the company’s court, and the pressure is on.

Upcoming Intensive Bargaining Schedule

The National Mediation Board has established an intensive bargaining schedule with dates three weeks in a row at the end of April/ beginning of May. We will meet in federal mediation the week of April 29th, May 6th, and May 13th. At those sessions, we will continue our push for an industry-leading contract. Flight Attendants are overdue for increases and it is our time.

APFA continues to propose a 33% increase at date of signing to top out at $90.77 and is now proposing increases in the out years of 5%, 4%, and 4% for a four-year contract. The company has been stuck at $76.00 at the top of the scale (matching Delta) which we have been crystal clear will not work. The ball is in their court and to reach a deal they must significantly increase their offer.

Flight Attendants need major improvements now in pay, work rules, and scheduling flexibility. We have already secured many of the scheduling flexibilities but the company has a list of concessions they seek. We are not in concessionary bargaining and the Company needs to understand we have fought for our work rules and are not giving them up.

APFA is proposing full retro pay and Flight Attendants have stated loudly and clearly that we must have retro pay.

Time to Redouble our Efforts: Contact Your Congressional Representative and Make a Plan to Attend the Upcoming Picketing

Away from the bargaining table, APFA is supporting a major push to restore the right to strike for airline workers. If you have not participated yet, we need all Flight Attendants to reach out to their Congressperson to urge them to sign the letter to the National Mediation Board. Call and email your Congressional Representative using these two links:

The push for a release to strike, combined with our picketing and the unity of Flight Attendants is putting incredible pressure on the company. But we cannot let up now. We need all Flight Attendants to redouble our efforts to reach an agreement and send a strong message to the company. We have picketing scheduled for May 9th, 2024. We also need to ensure everyone is wearing their lanyards and pins as we renew our push for the contact we deserve.

Save The Date!
Systemwide Informational Picketing
Thursday, May 9, 2024

Click here for more information and a video message from your negotiating committee.

Bargaining under the RLA is a drawn-out process and the company wants to wear us out. But if they think they will succeed in wearing us down, they do not know our workgroup. We are not going to settle for anything less than what we deserve. One day longer, one day stronger.

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

Need pins? Lanyards? Bag tags?

Click here to visit the APFA online store

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]