United Airlines Flight Attendants Vote 99.99% for Strike Authorization

United Airlines Flight Attendants Approve Strike Authorization

CHICAGO (August 28, 2024) — Flight attendants at United Airlines, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), have overwhelmingly voted in favor of a strike authorization. The vote, which saw 90.21% participation, resulted in a 99.99% approval for strike action if significant contract improvements are not met by management. The announcement was made live across nearly 20 informational picket lines at various airports nationwide.

“We deserve an industry-leading contract. Our strike vote shows we’re ready to do whatever it takes to reach the contract we deserve,” stated Ken Diaz, president of the United chapter of AFA. “We are the face of United Airlines and planes don’t take off without us. As Labor Day travel begins, United management is reminded what’s at stake if we don’t get this done.”

This marks the first strike authorization vote by United flight attendants since the 2005 bankruptcy negotiations. Similar votes at other airlines like American, Alaska, and Southwest have recently accelerated negotiations.

United’s flight attendants are pushing for substantial double-digit base pay increases, compensation for ground time, retroactive pay to the amendable date, improved scheduling flexibility and work rules, enhanced job security, and better retirement benefits.

“The United management team gives themselves massive compensation increases while Flight Attendants struggle to pay basic bills,” Diaz continued. “The 99.99% yes vote is a clear reminder that we are unified in the fight against corporate greed and ready to fight for our fair share of the profits we create.”

With the strike authorization in place, the union may now seek a release from the National Mediation Board (NMB), initiating a 30-day "cooling off" period and setting a potential strike deadline. AFA's trademarked CHAOS™ (Create Havoc Around Our System™) strategy means that a strike could impact the entire system or be limited to specific flights, with decisions made by the union without prior notice to management or passengers.

United flight attendants have been under an amendable contract for nearly three years and filed for federal mediation over eight months ago.

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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.