Flight Attendants Protest Regional Airline Pay Disparities at RAA Conference

Flight Attendants Protest at RAA Conference Over Pay Disparities

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 25, 2024) — Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), held a demonstration outside the Regional Airline Association (RAA) Conference. They aimed to highlight the "regional" business model, which they argue benefits executives and shareholders at major airlines such as Delta, United, American, and Alaska, while keeping pay and benefits for Flight Attendants and other workers at low levels.

The Flight Attendants criticized regional airline management for perpetuating a system that allows major airlines to drive down fees by pitting regional carriers against each other. This model results in passengers unknowingly flying with regional airlines that pay their staff significantly less than those directly employed by major airlines. On average, Flight Attendants at regional airlines earn 45% less than their counterparts at major airlines, despite performing the same duties.

"Flight Attendants at regional airlines across the industry fly the same routes and provide the same service as mainline Flight Attendants. It’s time they get paid like it," said Sara Nelson, international president of AFA-CWA, which represents 55,000 Flight Attendants at 20 airlines. "This two-tiered system in aviation looks a lot like contract work in other industries. Workers across the country can identify with this fight to end the disparity of pay and respect for workers doing the same job. The model is cruel, immoral, and a favorite play of a union buster hoping to promote resentment between workers rather than focusing anger and responsibility on the real corporate decision makers."

Despite working for regional airlines, the pay and conditions for these Flight Attendants are influenced by the management practices of major airlines like Delta, United, American, and Alaska. The demonstration follows significant developments among regional airline Flight Attendants, including a 99% vote to authorize a strike by Flight Attendants at American's regional carrier PSA Airlines after prolonged negotiations and no compensation proposals from PSA management. Similarly, Flight Attendants at another American Eagle regional carrier, Air Wisconsin, also voted 99% to authorize a strike after nearly two years of stalled negotiations.

AFA Regional Flight Attendants are urging major airlines to eliminate pay disparities and provide equitable compensation for the same work. They emphasize that as aviation's first responders, they deserve adequate pay and benefits to sustain their livelihoods.

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The Association of Flight Attendants is the Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for over 79 years. Serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media, and on Capitol Hill, AFA has transformed the Flight Attendant profession by raising wages, benefits, and working conditions. 55,000 Flight Attendants come together to form AFA, part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.