5.08.24 – American Airlines Flight Attendants Bring Contract Fight To The White House

Wednesday, May 8, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Paul Hartshorn, Jr.
[email protected]

American Airlines Flight Attendants Bring Contract Fight 
to the White House

Flight Attendants demanding help from elected officials across U.S. and
White House to restore their right to strike

Euless, Texas (May 8, 2024) — American Airlines Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), are calling on the White House and Congressional leaders to urge the National Mediation Board to utilize all provisions of the Railway Labor Act, including “self-help” and workers’ right to strike at the end of a 30-day cooling-off period. The Union has requested release from mediated negotiations to pursue a strike after a 30-day cooling-off period.

WHAT

American Airlines Flight Attendants picket nationwide to demand their right to strike, an important path to securing a new contract with American Airlines.

WHEN

Thursday, May 9, 2024, at airports throughout the U.S. and in front of the White House, and in front of American Airlines corporate headquarters.

Locations and times:

• Washington, D.C. (White House): 1100-1300 ET @ 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C., in front of the White House, where APFA National President and Flight Attendant Julie Hedrick is joined by other Union leaders to demand President Joe Biden help restore Flight Attendants’ right to strike.
• Boston (BOS): 11:00-13:00 ET – Boston Logan International Airport Terminal B Arrivals Level Doors B103-B104.
• Charlotte (CLT): 1100-1300 ET @ Charlotte/ Douglas International Airport, NW corner of Wilkinson Blvd/Josh Birmingham Pkwy intersection.
• Chicago (ORD): 1100-1300 CT @ Chicago/ O’Hare International Airport, Departures, between T2 and T3 sidewalk.
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) (Morning): 1100-1300 CT @ DFW Terminal D.
• Dallas-Fort Worth (Afternoon): 1530-1730 CT @ American Airlines Headquarters, corner of Skyview Drive and Trinity Blvd, as American Airlines management heads home for the evening.
• Los Angeles (LAX): 1100-1300 PT @ Los Angeles International Airport, between T4 & Tom Bradley terminal, departures level.
• Miami (MIA): 1100-1300 ET @ Miami International Airport, Terminal D, upper level, Door 1.
• Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP): 1100-1300 CT @ Minneapolis/ St. Paul International Airport, Terminal 1, upper level, south end.
• New York (JFK): 1600-1800 ET @ John F. Kennedy International Airport Terminal 8, Departures level outer island.
• Philadelphia (PHL): 1300-1500 ET @ Philadelphia International Airport, Terminal A West.
• Phoenix (PHX): 0800-1000 MST @ Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, Terminal 4, NW end, Level 2.
• Pittsburgh (PIT): 1300-1500 ET @ Airport Zone 4 baggage claim.
• San Diego (SAN): 1100-1300 PT @ Terminal 2 East Curbside, East of Skybridge level.

WHY

Flight Attendants are the only employees at American Airlines who have not had a raise in the past five years. Meanwhile, in 2023, AA CEO Robert Isom received a staggering $31.4 million pay package. New hire Flight Attendants at American Airlines start at just $27,000/year. Robert Isom’s compensation package is now 1,162 times that of a new-hire Flight Attendant, corporate greed at its finest.

APFA and other Flight Attendant Unions are leading the fight to restore the right to strike by calling on elected officials, including Congressional leaders across the country and President Joe Biden, to urge the National Mediation Board to utilize all provisions of the Railway Labor Act. This would include “self-help” and workers’ right to strike at the end of a 30-day cooling-off-period.

APFA and our Union Siblings are calling on our country’s leaders to respect and help restore airline Unionized labor’s right to strike. No workers should have to wait five years for a raise. American Airlines Flight Attendants are long overdue for a contract recognizing their sacrifices, addressing the current economic environment, and retroactively compensating them for management delays in negotiations. Airline management stalls and offers inferior proposals that devalue our profession while rewarding themselves with incentives and bonuses.

###