Rajesh Kumar Singh
CHICAGO (Reuters) – The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), which represents more than 23,000 U.S. flight attendants, said on Wednesday it unanimously rejected American Airlines’ (NASDAQ:) latest proposal.
The airline offered its flight attendants an immediate 17% pay rise and a new formula for higher profit sharing in 2024 in their new contracts, CEO Robert Isom said earlier in the day.
The union said the latest raise offer was made without reaching an agreement on a full contract, adding that “American Airlines flight attendants want and need a full contract that addresses all of our concerns.”
“We have 99.47 percent strike authorization, we have been picketing for months and have demonstrated our determination and solidarity. Our message was crystal clear: we want the best contract in the industry,” APFA said.
The current round of negotiations began in January 2020 but was suspended at the height of the pandemic. Negotiations resumed in June 2021.
The union has asked its workers to prepare for a strike after talks last month failed to reach an agreement.
American Airlines flight attendants say they haven’t received a pay raise in more than five years and have asked for an immediate raise of about 33%. Union officials say flight attendants have been through a lot since the pandemic, especially unruly passengers resisting a controversial requirement to wear masks on planes.
The two sides are due to resume talks next week. The APFA demanded an exemption from federal government-brokered negotiations, saying America’s proposals “remain far from addressing the current economic situation.”