Some American
Airlines flight attendants say they are forced to live in their cars because
they can’t balance the high cost of living in some areas with their paycheck if
they are required to live in major metro areas.
Not even a 17
percent offer from American Airlines management to increase pay is enough for
some flight attendants who are earning only $27,000 a year. The flight
attendants’ union argues that is especially true if the flight
attendants are forced to live in major metro areas surrounding New York,
Los Angeles and Dallas, for instance.
Flight attendants at
several airlines, including American, are in negotiations for a new contract. The
union estimates there are 80,000 workers currently embroiled in contract
negotiations.
Several thousand
of them staged a coordinated picket at 30 airports earlier this week to protest.
“Flight Attendants cannot afford to
wait any longer for these agreements and neither can the airlines,” said Sara
Nelson, International President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA,
representing nearly 55,000 Flight Attendants at 20 airlines. “We’re done with
hollow platitudes about how much Flight Attendants are ‘appreciated.’ Airlines
need to get serious and reach agreements with us immediately. If not, we’re
ready for next steps under the Railway Labor Act.”
Some American Airlines flight attendants
find themselves in a catch-22. Even with the proposed increase from American
Airlines, they are above the limit in some states to qualify for food stamps. The
17 percent pay increase offer was rejected by the flight attendants, some of
whom, the union says, are fighting for extra shifts just to get the free meal
when available.
American Airlines management even
went as far as to issue
some poverty verification letters to some flight attendants.
Earlier this week, 32 Senators called on the National
Mediation Board to end delays and allow airline workers to
strike if agreements can’t be reached.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
