As Labor Day approaches, United Airlines Flight Attendants authorize strike call

In this Oct. 15, 2020, file photo, a United Airlines airplane takes off over a plane on the runway at San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco. | Jeff Chiu/AP

CHICAGO —By a 99.99% share in a 90.21% turnout, the 28,000 unionized Flight Attendants at United Airlines authorized their officers to call a strike. The key reason: The company’s refusal to even consider a decent contract to replace the one which expired three years ago.

The strike authorization vote sends a signal to Chicago-based United’s management that the attendants, members of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, are serious about their demands.

Since United is now flying full planes and profitable once again, the Flight Attendants should get a greater share of the cash their service produces. The union seeks a double-digit pay increase over the life of the new contract, higher pay for time actually at work—including prep work before flights begin and after they end—pay hikes retroactive for the last three years, and better work rules.

“As Labor Day travel begins, United management is reminded what’s at stake if we don’t get this done,” Ken Diaz, president of AFA’s United Master Executive Council said in AFA’s statement.

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

Relying on federal records, the AFL-CIO’s Executive Paywatch reported that last year, United CEO Scott Kirby earned $18,573,299, with about 60 percent of that in the value of his stock options. His yearly compensation was 299 times that of a median United Air Lines worker—a group that includes highly paid pilots. The median is the point where half the workers earn more and half earn less.

The strike authorization vote does not mean a strike will automatically occur. As a matter of law, there’s even less chance of that at railroads and airlines than in most other industries.

The pre-New Deal Railway Labor Act covers both groups, and it mandates federal cooling-off periods, mediation orders from the National Mediation Board, which governs those workers and industries and settlements often proposed by presidential boards and ratified by Congress—thus barring strikes.

Until the NMB “releases” both labor and management to engage in “self-help”—strikes by the workers and lockouts by the bosses—everyone must keep toiling.

But AFA’s trademarked strike strategy, CHAOS™–Create Havoc Around Our System—could affect all of United or single flights, if NMB releases the two. The AFA-CWA board would decide when, where and how to strike without notice to management.

The August 28 announcement of the strike authorization OK coincided with a National Day of Action AFA-CWA called against United. Informational picket lines went up at Washington Dulles Airport, United’s main hub at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, and the San Diego and San Francisco airports in California, among others.

Walking, chanting informational picketers at the airports told customers what was going on. Because their pact expired three years ago, the Flight Attendants’ pay has been frozen. And worker protections, such as grievances, can’t be handled.

““We deserve an industry-leading contract. Our strike vote shows we’re ready to do whatever it takes to reach the contract we deserve. As Labor Day travel begins, United management is reminded what’s at stake if we don’t get this done,” the union tweeted.

“We know our power. We know our worth. No Concessions. #WhateverItTakes #ContractNow @afa_cwa” another tweet read.

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CONTRIBUTOR

Mark Gruenberg

Award-winning journalist Mark Gruenberg is head of the Washington, D.C., bureau of People's World. He is also the editor of the union news service Press Associates Inc. (PAI). Known for his reporting skills, sharp wit, and voluminous knowledge of history, Mark is a compassionate interviewer but tough when going after big corporations and their billionaire owners.