Senator Kaine Leads Call for Fair Contract for PSA Flight Attendants

PSA Flight Attendants Seek Contractual Reforms, Backed by Senators

WASHINGTON — A coalition of 15 U.S. senators, spearheaded by Senator Tim Kaine, has urged PSA Airlines' CEO Dion Flannery to negotiate a contract that reflects the essential role of PSA Flight Attendants. This comes after two years without significant pay raises or improvements in working conditions for the attendants.

The senators' letter highlights the necessity for a fair contract under the Railway Labor Act, criticizing the outdated terms that leave PSA Flight Attendants with subpar wages and benefits compared to industry standards. The letter states, "Under the Railway Labor Act, carriers and their employees are expected to make a reasonable effort to create and maintain collective bargaining agreements. Instead, the PSA flight attendants have been struggling to make ends meet under a current contract that is out of date, which includes pay and benefits well below the industry standard. Regional flight attendants perform more passenger boardings, but they work without boarding pay, which is also becoming a standard in the industry."

Among the signatories are prominent figures such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senators Bernie Sanders, Maria Cantwell, and Tammy Duckworth, among others. Their support aligns with an earlier bipartisan appeal from House representatives, including Rep. Alma Adams and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, to PSA's leadership.

PSA Flight Attendants are advocating for a contract similar to that of mainline attendants, with demands for double-digit pay increases, boarding pay, retroactive pay, and enhancements in scheduling. Sara Nelson, President of the AFA-CWA, which represents 55,000 Flight Attendants, emphasized, “Flight Attendants save lives every day and serve as the face of PSA Airlines and American Eagle in ever increasingly difficult conditions. They deserve pay for this time with passengers and a living wage contract."

Nelson further commended the legislative backing, stating, “We need a contract now. When workers are in the trenches, it speaks volumes about who stands with us. So thank you to Senator Kaine for leading this letter along with all of the Senators and members in the House who stepped up to call for a fair contract now.”

To read the full letter addressed to PSA Airlines, click here.

For more information about the Association of Flight Attendants and their initiatives, visit www.afacwa.org.

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