United Airlines Flight Attendants Authorize Strike

United Airlines flight attendants have voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike authorization.

The carrier's flight attendants, who are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), voted 99.99 percent yes, with 90.21 percent participating, on strike authorization should “management fail to agree to significant improvements,” according to a press release issued by the organization.

The vote results were announced live, simultaneously, on nearly 20 informational picket lines at airports across the country.

“We deserve an industry-leading contract. Our strike vote shows we’re ready to do whatever it takes to reach the contract we deserve,” Ken Diaz, president of the United chapter of AFA, said according to today’s press release. “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 is the first time since 2005 bankruptcy negotiations that flight attendants at the major airline voted on strike authorization.

Additionally, the organizations aid that other recent strike authorization votes have ensured that negotiations moved forward at American, Alaska, Southwest, and other airlines.

United Airlines flight attendants are seeking a double-digit base pay increase, pay for time at work on the ground, retroactive pay to the amendable date, schedule flexibility and work rule improvements, job security, retirement and more.

“The United management team gives themselves massive compensation increases while flight attendants struggle to pay basic bills,” Diaz added.

The Chicago-based carrier employs more than 28,000 flight attendants, according to Reuters.

The union added in its statement issued today that it can now request a release from the National Mediation Board (NMB) leading to a 30-day "cooling off" period and strike deadline.

While a strike has now been authorized, the flight attendants cannot walk off the job until they're granted permission by the NMB. The board, for its part, must determine that the parties have reached a standstill and that further negotiations between the flight attendants and United Airlines would not be productive, according to Reuters.

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