“Our 99.8% vote shows Horizon and Alaska management that we will do whatever it takes to get the contract we have earned,” said Lisa Davis Warren, president of the Horizon chapter of AFA-CWA representing 650 Horizon Air flight attendants. “We have dedicated our lives to Horizon and the communities that we serve. We are simply asking for the pay, benefits, and improvements we have earned. But Horizon management seems uninterested in resolving this dispute or showing the slightest concern for frontline workers who can’t afford rent or other basic life necessities.”

Horizon flight attendants filed for federal mediation in January 2025. They have common industry demands: living wage pay increases, increased pay for time at work including while boarding the plane, better benefits, and work rule improvements.

“Flight attendants at Horizon and other regional airlines across the industry fly the same routes and provide the same service as mainline flight attendants. It’s time they are recognized for their critical contributions to Alaska-Hawaiian,” said Sara Nelson, international president of AFA-CWA representing 55,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines. “There is no reason these negotiations should take a minute longer. Flight attendants deserve a living wage contract now.”

AFA has a trademarked strike strategy known as CHAOS™ or Create Havoc Around Our System™. With CHAOS, a strike could affect the entire system or a single flight. The union decides when, where and how to strike, without notice to management or passengers. The right to strike is triggered when the National Mediation Board declares that negotiations are deadlocked and releases both parties into a 30-day “cooling off” period leading to a strike deadline.

Horizon Air is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alaska Air Group operating daily flights to nearly 50 destinations.

#WashingtonDC #Labor #FlightAttendants #Strike

“Spirit Flight Attendants and thousands of other workers have invested their entire careers in the airline and provided a great service to the traveling public through good and bad times.

“Today, thousands of Flight Attendants and other frontline workers have their lives, paychecks, healthcare, homes, and retirement hanging in the balance.

“Other airline executives are saying Spirit won’t survive no matter what the federal government does. But that isn’t true. Spirit’s competitors are just saying this because they want to gobble up Spirit’s parts without any obligation to the frontline employees who need these jobs to survive.

“We strongly support and are hopeful that the government will recognize the need for emergency funds to keep Spirit flying. Any assertion that Spirit should just liquidate is only going to harm workers, passengers, and further strain our economy. It’s unnecessary and mean spirited – when just a little help can stave off massive harm.”

“Let’s remember real people are hoping and praying for a lifeline. And no doubt they deserve it! But they also deserve consideration and kindness. Keep Spirit flying.”

#WashingtonDC #Labor #FlightAttendants #AFACWA

Chicago, IL. – On Thursday, January 15, 300 United flight attendants and supporters participated in an informational picket outside the United Airlines corporate headquarters, the Willis Tower, in downtown Chicago. It was 18 degrees out in the windy city, yet United flight attendants, flight attendants from other airlines and members of local unions still showed up to demand a contract and show solidarity.

United flight attendants have been without a contract for a grueling five years now. Their last contract was ratified in 2016 and the United negotiating committee has been struggling with the company at the table since 2021. This is detrimental to the quality of life and wellbeing of the flight attendants, who work tirelessly hard to keep people safe. Many flight attendants are struggling to keep up with bills, not being paid a living wage while also being forced to work under outdated and unfair work rules.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby proudly declares United to be “the best airline in the world” while also celebrating the airline’s profits. However, United Airlines flight attendants get paid the least in the industry compared to other mainline carriers and is the last group of flight attendants without a current contract.

Flight attendants held signs that read, “The best airline in the world, leaving us out in the cold” and chanted, “Scott Kirby has got to go!”

Ken Diaz is the master executive council president of United AFA (Association of Flight Attendants) and is a leading member of the negotiating team. He stated, “We are the first responders. We are safety professionals. We go through extensive training and we just want to be recognized.”

Diaz continued, “We are a predominantly female workforce and we are the only union on the property that has not gotten a contract.”

He elaborates on the haunting fact that other airline employees are making more than 30 or 40% more than United flight attendants. “You can't be the world’s leading airline and leave out 30,000 of your employees,” said Diaz

When asked about the progress towards a new tentative agreement, Melinda Beal, the chairperson of the AFA United negotiating team. shared that there are a couple big ticket issues still left on the table such as wages and important, costly work rules. However, she said that they have been making good progress. She called on the corporate executives to come to the table and finish things up now.

Beal expresses the undervalued importance of flight attendants: “They always say, ‘airplanes don't take off without pilots,’ but guess what? Airplanes don't take off without flight attendants either.”

United Airlines flight attendants and supporters will continue to be loud and demand a decent contract until they get one. They cannot wait another five years.

#ChicagoIL #IL #Labor #AFACWA #FlightAttendants #United #Feature

Nelson stated, “People died this year. All 67 people onboard Flight 5342 – Flight Attendants, pilots, and passengers. Families are still grieving. Flight Attendants and our flying partners across the country are still carrying the trauma of watching colleagues and passengers lost in a collision that never should have happened. And now the U.S. House has passed a provision that would roll back safety protections that could prevent another disaster.

“Who is even asking for this? The NTSB and Chair Homendy are still investigating the tragic collision, and Section 373 of the NDAA is not only reckless and indefensible, but also a direct undermining of the NTSB’s safety guidance.

“Air travel is the safest mode of transportation because we investigate and adapt in the wake of tragedy. The safety protections currently in place following the January 29 crash are crucial, and lawmakers must fix the NDAA immediately. Families have suffered enough. We have the power and responsibility to ensure a tragedy like this never happens again. The Senate must reject this provision now.”

#WashingtonDC #DC #Labor @AFACWA #FlightAttendants

Dallas, TX – On August 18, Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) flight attendants and supporters picketed outside of Dallas – Fort Worth Airport to demand an end to work without pay and for pay raises that reflect the work they do. This comes during stalled contract negotiations and the potential to move into mediation in late August.

In Dallas, supporters from Envoy Air, Omni, American Airlines, caterers and others joined in. They were joined by flight attendants picketing across the country in Dayton (DAY), Philadelphia (PHL), Charlotte (CLT) and Arlington (DCA).

Picketers chanted “Honk, honk beep beep, PSA is really cheap” and “What do we want? Contract, When do we want it? Now!” Signs read, “Pay us or chaos” and “No tiers in aviation, same work, same pay.”

“I cannot be fully invested in this job if I can’t pay my bills” said PSA flight attendant Travis Smith. “I’ve been ready to strike.”

Flight attendants in PSA have been in negotiations for two years now. Their demands include boarding pay, which is currently unpaid, yet is often the most challenging part of trips.

PSA is a regional subsidiary of American Airlines. Mainline U.S. carriers, such as American or Delta, have established subsidiary “regional airlines” like PSA to cut costs on lower volume routes. These subsidiary companies operate as separate airlines, despite flying planes with the same paintjobs as their parent companies. Passengers usually don’t know the difference.

Flight attendants on these routes often work longer days filled with shorter flights. They receive far less pay than their mainline counterparts, while performing the same duties and wearing the same uniforms. Aviation unions have criticized this as a two-tier system.

In January of 2025, PSA flight attendants suffered the loss of their coworkers in DCA (Washington National Airport), when a midair collision took the lives of PSA flight attendants Ian Epstein and Danasia Elder. Flight attendants pointed out the insulting disparity between life-threatening work they do compared to the poverty wages they receive.

“We need to stand up for ourselves and show management that we are serious” says PSA flight attendant Jeanne Krejci, “We need to be paid on the ground, we have flight attendants on SNAP, who can’t pay for their bills. We need a living wage.”

Flight attendants are under the Railway Labor Act, meaning that contracts become amendable and are often drawn out. If negotiations stall, they move into mediation for a period of time and if they are unable to reach an agreement, they will enter a cooling off period of 30 days before being released to strike.

Flight attendants at PSA are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA). The AFA is the largest flight attendant union in the U.S. and represents flight attendants at regional carriers for American, Delta, and Alaska Airlines. The AFA is leading the charge in the campaign to end tiers in aviation.

#DallasTX #TX #Labor #AFACWA #PSA #FlightAttendants

The major agreement also sets a new standard for the industry with a boarding pay worth more than other mainline carriers, as well as an increase in pay for trip reassignment, extended reserve shifts, and for flights delayed into a day off.

The new contract includes immediate pay increases with 18.6 to 28.3% day-of-signing increase to the pay scale, 25 months of retro pay, and two additional raises locked in over the life of the contract.

“This contract will immediately and significantly improve the lives of Alaska flight attendants,” said Jeffrey Peterson, AFA president at Alaska Airlines. “Alaska flight attendants’ solidarity pushed management to recognize our critical role to the safety and success of this airline. This contract also raises the foundation for the new joint Alaska-Hawaiian negotiations following the merger.”

The contract was ratified with 95% voting for the agreement of the 91% participating.

“Flight attendants are on the front lines every single day interacting with passengers and ensuring the safety of everyone onboard,” said Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, representing over 55,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines. “As all eyes have turned to the essential work of flight attendants, this industry-leading contract not only provides Alaska flight attendants with what they’ve earned, but it reinforces the contract standards for all flight attendants across the industry.”

#SeattleWA #WA #Labor #AFACWA #FlightAttendants #Contract

“Flight attendants at Horizon Air and in the regional airlines deserve fair compensation,” said Horizon AFA President Lisa Davis-Warren. “The company needs to recognize the contributions we have made to its continued growth. We are hopeful that with the help of a federal mediator we will work with urgency to get the pay, benefits, and scheduling provisions we have earned.”

Horizon Air is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alaska Airlines. And while Horizon Flight Attendants work for the regional airline, management at Alaska ultimately controls their pay and working conditions at Horizon – where flight attendants provide the same service as their mainline counterparts while being paid significantly less.

Management has so far failed to offer meaningful pay increases for all flight attendants in the workgroup. Instead of raising the standards for regional flight attendants, management is content to maintain a two-tiered exploitative “regional airline” business model that leaves regional flight attendants behind.

Filing for federal mediation with the National Mediation Board is the next step in negotiations under the Railway Labor Act, and the NMB will oversee negotiations, assign a federal mediator, and schedule mediation sessions.

#MinneapolisMN #MN #Labor #FlightAttendants #AFA #Contract

“It’s time to add pressure and urgency to these negotiations and raise the standards for Mesa flight attendants,” said Shannon Harris, Mesa AFA president. “Flight attendants at Mesa need relief now in order to make ends meet. It’s time to get this done and if United Airlines has ‘extra cash’ for Wall Street with a $1.5 billion stock buyback they certainly have cash to lift us out of poverty wages.”

While Mesa flight attendants work for the regional airline, airline management at United ultimately controls the pay and working conditions at Mesa, which provides a significant amount of United’s route structure. The exploitative “regional airline” business model allows United to reap massive profits, while suppressing wages and benefits for workers at regionals.

Passengers generally don’t know that they are flying with a different airline, one that pays almost half as much in pay and benefits for the workers.

“Passengers board these United-branded flights unaware that the flight attendants working them are paid nearly 45% less for the same work,” said Sara Nelson, AFA international president. “The immoral contract structure that locks in two tiers of employment for the same [job] has got to end. The greed that drives massive payouts for executives and hedge funds cannot leave flight attendants starving. Our union is demanding an end to tiers of employment in aviation.”

The National Mediation Board will oversee this week’s negotiations in New Orleans, as Mesa Air flight attendants continue to press for a contract that reflects their essential contributions as aviation’s first responders to United’s operation.

#WashingtonDC #Labor #AFA #FlightAttendants

Washington, DC – On August 28, flight attendants at United Airlines who are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) voted on whether or not to authorize a strike if needed in contract negotiations with the carrier. The flight attendants filed for federal mediation eight months ago, after working under what they call an amendable contract for the last three years. After not seeing the movement at the table that they needed, the flight attendants decided to take the next step let their members vote over whether to authorize a strike.

The results were loud and clear. A near unanimous majority of 99.99% of ballots cast voted to authorize a strike; over 90% of United flight attendants participated in the vote.

Flight attendants heard the news broadcast in real time at nearly 20 informational picket lines which were being held simultaneously across the country.

Ken Diaz is the president of the United Airlines chapter of AFA and said, “We deserve an industry-leading contract. Our strike vote shows we’re ready to do whatever it takes to reach the contract we deserve,” and went on to say “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.”

In their negotiations, the flight attendants at United are demanding a double-digit base pay increase as well as paid time for time at work on the ground. They are also fighting for retroactive pay to the date the contract became amendable, as well as flexibility in scheduling, work rule improvements, job security and retirement, among other issues.

While the flight attendants have faced stagnant wages in recent years, they say that management has been giving themselves significant raises through the same period in time. About this, Ken Diaz said “The United management team gives themselves massive compensation increases while flight attendants struggle to pay basic bills.”

The last time that flight attendants at United took a strike authorization vote was in 2005. However, this year, flight attendants at American, Alaska, Southwest and other airlines have all voted to authorize strikes. The previous strike votes have shown management that the flight attendants are ready to fight for what they deserve and, as a result, have worked to move the bargaining process forward at each airline. Now with this historic 99.9% strike authorization vote, United flight attendants have sent a clear message to management that they are ready to take this fight to a strike if management doesn’t make significant movement to meet their demands.

Now that members have authorized a strike, at any point AFA could request a release from federal mediation, which would begin a 30-day cooling off period before a strike can take place.

In the past, AFA has used a strike strategy known as CHAOS which stands for “Create Havoc Around Our System.” Using the CHAOS strategy, a strike can be called that would affect the entire airline industry and travel or could affect just a single flight. The union decides when to strike, who to include and where to do it and is not required to give any notice to management or passengers under the Railway Labor Act.

Now that a strike has been authorized by a powerful 99.99% majority, eyes will be tuned to the AFA negotiations closely as a strike at United could severely impact the airlines, flight schedules and business as well as personal travel nationwide in coming months. While what will happen next is yet to be seen, from the near-unanimous strike authorization one thing is very clear: the AFA flight attendants at United are ready to fight and are themselves united.

#WashingtonDC #Labor #FlightAttendants #AFACWA #Strike

The flight attendants union called the most recent round of contract proposals from management insulting and decided that a vote to authorize a strike was called for. Flight attendants are fighting for pay increases to help them keep up with rising costs after many years of stagnant pay, which they say has made it difficult to pay basic bills.

The flight attendants are fighting for double-digit base pay increases, increased pay for time at work, sick leave, work rule improvements, and more. At the same time, they say that management has awarded themselves massive pay increases even as they attempt to lowball their employees and keep their wages stagnant.

In a press release from AFA-CWA, Lee Wilkes, president of the PSA chapter of AFA said, “Life at PSA is unsustainable for flight attendants without significant improvements,” and went on to say, “The cost of living has skyrocketed while our pay remains delayed. We can’t afford to wait any longer. We’re ready to show PSA and American management that we will do whatever it takes to get our contract.”

The strike vote comes after the flight attendants filed for federal mediation in January but have continued to see no progress from management around their demands in the eight months since. Even after filing for mediation management took seven months to return a contract proposal to the flight attendants and, when it came, the proposal included base wage increases which the flight attendants say are insulting and do not keep up with increases seen at major carriers in the industry. They say that these proposals would not allow them to keep up with rising costs of living, let alone move forward.

The strike vote will begin on August 21, when over 1300 flight attendants will be sent ballots to vote on whether to authorize a strike. The vote will end on September 17 with ballots counted soon after. This vote will come soon after flight attendants at some other airlines have taken similar votes which propelled bargaining forward.

Sara Nelson is the international president of AFA-CWA, which represents around 55,00 flight attendants across 20 airlines. Nelson said, “Flight Attendants at PSA and other regional airlines across the industry are fighting to end tiers in aviation.” Nelson also said that “PSA flight attendants wear the same uniforms, fly the same routes, and perform the same service as mainline flight attendants. But airlines leave them behind in compensation and benefits.”

Flight attendants with AFA have used a strategy in the past called CHAOS which stands for “Create Havoc Around Our Systems.” In the event of a strike, the flight attendants could choose to use the CHAOS approach, which allows a strike at one smaller carrier to affect airline traffic across all carriers. The flight attendants do not need to give notice to management or to passengers when they strike as long as they have first met a 30-day cooling off period. After that, CHAOS could be employed to ground a single flight or in ways that would ripple out across entire airports and systems.

With ballots going out in less than a week and being counted in just over a month, this is a developing story and Fight Back! will continue to bring coverage of it in coming weeks and months as the situation develops.

#Labor #FlightAttendants #AFACWA

The Association of Flight Attendants represents around 6900 Alaska employees, and they have been in contract negotiations over their next union contract with the carrier. After 18 months of negotiations, the employer and the union reached a tentative agreement in June, which the union then took to the flight attendants to vote over whether to accept the offer or not. After reaching the tentative agreement, flight attendants and union leaders went on the road to talk with flight attendants about the details of that tentative agreement and what it included and what it did not. From there they scheduled the vote for the flight attendants to decide what to do next.

The contract offer included an average of 32% in pay increases over three years as well as something called boarding pay, in which flight attendants would be paid for their time on flights when passengers are boarding, and flight attendants are working. Right now, that work is unpaid until around the time of takeoff.

Turnout to the vote was over 94% according to the union, with 68% voting to reject the contract offer. In a press release, AFA said that this is democracy in action and that there is more work to do. AFA-CWA says that they plan to begin surveying their members to inform next steps for the union. The rejection of the contract does not automatically trigger a strike, but ultimately, if no deal is reached, a strike is a very real possibility. Throughout the negotiating process Alaska Airlines flight attendants have held pickets at airports around the country.

The flight attendants have also signaled that they could employ a strategy known as CHAOS, which stands for “Create Havoc Around Our System” in which flight attendants on individual flights declare a strike and walk out. Alaska Airlines flight attendants employed the CHAOS strategy 30 years ago in negotiations and as a result won significant gains at the bargaining table.

While the offer that was rejected included some forward progress, the flight attendants say it did not go far enough to meet their needs. Being a flight attendant is a job which includes constant travel, unpredictable schedules and mistreatment from passengers. Some flight attendants have said that their current pay rates have left them in a situation where they are qualified for welfare benefits in order to make ends meet.

What happens next for the flight attendants of Alaska is unknown and it is happening against a backdrop of contract fights across many carriers with AFA-CWA representation. For now, the union members have sent a clear message that management’s offer was not enough.

#AK #Labor #FlightAttendants #AFACWA #contract

Los Angeles, CA – On the late morning of June 13, hundreds of flight attendants from different airlines picketed across terminals at LAX, the Los Angeles airport. Three unions were present and coordinated together Worldwide Day of Action, hitting multiple airports across the country.

AFA-CWA (Association of Flight Attendants), APFA (Association of Professional Flight Attendants), and the TWU (Transport Workers Union) all organized flight attendants as they marched throughout the busy LAX terminals demanding contracts, and an end to corporate greed.

Flight attendants are demanding action as negotiations have reached a standstill between them and different airline companies. Flight attendants are currently in negotiations at Alaska, American and United, which are being stalled by the airline executives. There are also negotiations at smaller airlines – Air Wisconsin, Frontier, Omni and PSA.

Flight attendants have worked beyond the expiration of their current contracts and are demanding better working conditions and pay from companies that are making record profits. Many unions will not work beyond a contract expiration and will go on strike, but, because flight attendants are covered under the Railway Labor Act, they must undergo federal mediation before that can take place. In the meantime, the airlines and Federal Mediation Board have dragged their feet while flight attendants have been waiting. Airline companies know the rules and are taking advantage of the laws in place.

The morning picket started with speeches from different flight attendants in front of the Tom Bradley International terminal at LAX. Busy summer travel and traffic was in full effect Thursday morning. The flight attendants chanted, loudly demanding a “Contract, now!” They then marched to neighboring domestic terminals yelling, “Hey hey! Ho ho! Corporate greed has got to go!” Travelers were shaken by the spirited chanting. Workers at the terminals appeared supportive, though they were on the clock. The flight attendants were joined in solidarity by other unions, including the Writers Guild of America, IBEW local 11 and the Teamsters.

Brendan Moriarity of the TWU Local 579 executive board for LAX and a flight attendant with Jet Blue said, “We organized this picket today to show the solidarity between all flight attendants. We were out here today demanding dignity and respect on the job. We’re demanding better pay, work rules and a better quality of life.” In reference to the extreme hours flight attendants may work where forced overtime is normal, he said, “We work to live, not live to work.” He continued, “We’re here to show support for our brothers and sisters and show the bosses that corporate greed doesn’t fly.”

#LosAngelesCA #CA #Labor #AFA #APFA #TWU #FlightAttendants

The group of flight attendants were made up of members from two unions who are fighting for a good contract, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA, and Association of Flight Attendants (AFA).

Chants led by union members highlighted the rank-and-file members’ anger with how the airline companies have been handling contract negotiations: “What’s appalling? Constant stalling!” as well as “What do we want? Contract! When do we want it? Now!”

The Flight Attendants negotiations fall under the Railway Labor Act, under which the flight attendants union contracts do not have set expiration dates. Negotiations are currently happening through a federal mediation process. There were many flight attendants present at the rally that had not had a new union contract since 2016. Flight attendants from United, Alaska, American and Southwest are all negotiating their next contracts and have already held votes to authorize strikes at Southwest, American and Alaska if needed in their fights for a next contract.

The event lasted around two hours and included marching and picketing around various parts of the airport. Some portions of the pickets were visible to cars driving in and out of the airport, where many showed their support by honking their horns. The event was very loud and full of energy.

This action was a first step for flight attendants to show that they are not willing to accept stalled contract negotiations any longer and are willing to bring the fight to the bosses.

#DenverCO #Labor