American Airlines flight attendants ended their latest bargaining session without an agreement Thursday, which the union representing them said will push it a step closer to a strike at the major U.S. air carrier.
Last week, union members representing the 28,000 flight attendants who belong to the Association of Professional Flight Attendants picketed at DFW International Airport and other airports across the country, while the negotiating committee was in Washington trying to secure a deal.
The pickets came right after American CEO Robert Isom tried to get money into flight attendants’ pockets right away with an immediate 17% pay bump to show initiative towards a contract. The union struck that deal down.
The union is preparing to strike, it said in a release Thursday. However, a strike is still far from reach without federal mediators releasing the union.
”After years of bargaining, including almost a year of mediated talks with the assistance of the National Mediation Board, and despite the union’s best efforts, American Airlines did not come to the table with an agreement that adequately compensates American’s 28,000 flight attendants,” said Julie Hedrick, APFA president, in a release. “Flight attendants will move the process forward to secure overdue economic improvements.”
Under the Railway Labor Act there are many steps that would need to take place ahead of an airline worker strike. American’s flight attendants have set up a strike center already and passed a strike authorization vote in November. The National Mediation Board would still need to release them from mediation for a 30-day cooling-off period. If no deal is reached within 30 days, they would be authorized to strike.
At this time there is no indication that the union will be released from mediation and the company, which is headquartered in Fort Worth, is preparing to go back to the table with the union.
“We made good progress in negotiations this week, adding even more to the industry-leading proposal we’ve had on the table for months,” said Sarah Jantz, spokesperson for American, in an email. “We look forward to continuing negotiations so our flight attendants can benefit from the contract they deserve. This agreement is within reach and we look forward to additional dates being scheduled.”