Most strikes don't affect the average American all that much.
Take the recent writers' strike, which shut down movie and television production. It was a major job action, but its impact was felt mostly by people in the industry.
Your favorite network, cable and streaming shows lost production, which pushed back the dates when those programs would air. That might have annoyed people who were awaiting the traditional September start to the network-TV season.
For most people, however, the strike went without much notice because the networks had found clever ways to deliver new nonscripted shows while cable and streaming had new shows ready to cover the period during the strike.
Over the next 12 months the cupboards periodically might go a bit bare, but the return of late-night comedy shows, game shows and other quick-to-produce programming will mostly cover the gaps.
But that was just TV viewing. If the flight attendants from any of the major airlines strike, the impact will be far deeper. And that could happen, not just at a single airline but possibly at United (UAL) -), Southwest, Alaska and American Airlines.
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Flight attendants could strike
It's important to note that flight attendants can't strike as easily as workers in other fields can. Airline workers and their negotiations with airlines are governed by the Railway Labor Act. That law requires a number of steps, including mediation through the National Mediation Board.
A first step toward a strike would be asking the board to release the union representing each airline's flight attendants from mediation. Southwest Airlines (LUV) -) pilots took that step, but the request was denied.
American Airlines' (AAL) -) flight attendants union, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, could be the next union to make that request. Members of that union voted nearly unanimously (99.47%) in favor of striking.
"This strike-authorization vote represents an important step in our fight for an industry-leading agreement," the union said in a news release. "Your negotiations team will return to the bargaining table with a clear message to management that American Airlines flight attendants are fired up and ready for our contract."
The union made clear that while it understood the rules under which it was operating, making the moves needed to strike is very much on the table.
"We cannot strike until released by the National Mediation Board and following a 30-day cooling-off period," the union wrote. "But if management continues proposing concessions coupled with meager improvements to compensation and retirement, we will not hesitate to request a release to strike if necessary."
The American Air union's national communications chair, Paul Hartshorn, recently told Travel Weekly that a strike was possible "by the holidays."
Other airlines might see flight-attendant strikes
Southwest Airlines in June reached a deal with Transport Workers Union Local 556, which represents more than 18,000 of the airline's flight attendants, but the union's board voted to not accept the agreement. Southwest's flight attendants have not had a contract since late 2018.
The airline's flight attendants held a picket in February outside Southwest's annual employee rally in Las Vegas. TWU 556 has made its cause public, with a Change.org petition that lays out some of the union's demands.
While Southwest Airlines Flight Attendants continue performing their important jobs to help ensure passengers’ safety and comfort in the air, they have endured too much: Threats of lay-offs and pay cuts from Southwest Airlines. Operational failures on the part of their airline. Increased Passenger aggression. Serving on the front lines during a pandemic. Lack of hotels and access to hot meals.
Media statements from Southwest sent to TheStreet have made clear that the airline expects to reach a deal before any labor action takes place.
"Ninety-nine percent of mediation cases since 1980 have resulted in an agreement. A major U.S. airline has not had a strike since 1997 and it ended immediately," a spokesperson for the airline said.
Southwest and American are not the only airlines negotiating with their flight attendants. Alaska Airlines (ALK) -) and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents its flight attendants, are negotiating through a mediator. United Airlines remains in direct negotiations with its flight attendants.
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