With the holidays coming up, multiple airlines are in the midst of labor negotiations to avoid any potential strikes or disruptions during the busy holiday period.
After lobbying for better pay and work conditions for the last three years, the union representing Southwest Airlines (LUV) -) pilots is preparing to launch regional strike movements in different parts of the country ahead of the busy holiday travel period. While American Airlines (AAL) -) pilots locked in a new four-year agreement and $9 billion collective pay increase package last August, many months of negotiations failed to bring forth a "reasonable" agreement with the union representing the airline's 26,000 flight attendants — a vote for them to strike also passed by 99.47% last August.
Related: American and Southwest Airlines face looming strikes
With time for a deal running out, industry insiders were anxiously waiting to see whether the American Airlines flight attendants would strike ahead of the busy holiday period.
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The possibility of a holiday-period strike has been shot down by the government
On Nov. 28, the possibility of a Christmastime strike was shut down after the federal government's National Mediation Board (NMB) denied the union's request to start the 30-day cooling-off period that is necessary before job action begins.
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"At this time, the National Mediation Board (NMB) has denied our request for release into a 30-day cooling-off period," the Association for Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) wrote in a press statement. "We strongly disagree with this decision. The Company has had our economic proposal since March, and has refused to respond to our comprehensive counter proposals since September."
As any disruptions to service would be most heavily felt during the holiday period, striking during this time is one of unions' strongest negotiating tools meant to put pressure on the airline to reach a deal. While this puts the prospect of a fair contract for the flight attendants further out of reach, it is good news for those who will be passing through the country's busy airports during the holiday season. According to data from the AAA, nearly 115 million people traveled more than 50 miles from home in the last two weeks of December 2022.
What are flight attendants bargaining for anyway? Staffing shortage means many are burnt out
Many of the issues for which American Airlines flight attendants are prepared to strike are endemic to the industry. With all U.S. airlines severely short of the number of workers necessary to meet the current surge in demand for post-pandemic travel, the ones who are working are feeling stretched thin and burnt out.
Prior to coming to the current impasse, the union representing American Airlines flight attendants was asking for a 35% pay raise and two annual increases of 6% while the airline was willing to offer an 11% up-front pay raise and annual increases of 2%
"American Airlines management thinks they can evade the issue, but they are mistaken," APFA wrote further in its statement. "We will intensify our pressure on the company but also assert our rights under the RLA. Rather than do the right thing for the Flight Attendants, the company is attempting to drag out bargaining."
