United Airlines flight attendants vote to approve strike

CLEVELAND (WJW) — United Airlines flight attendants demonstrated nationwide and at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport as they announced the results of a strike authorization vote Wednesday.

The flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, voted 99.99% to authorize a strike if management fails to agree to “significant improvement,” a press release said.

President of the union’s United chapter Ken Diaz 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. We are the face of United Airlines and planes don’t take off without us. As Labor Day travel begins, United management is reminded of what’s at stake if we don’t get this done.”

According to the release, this is the first time since the 2005 bankruptcy negotiations that flight attendants at United voted on strike authorization.

Recent strike votes have moved negotiations forward for pay increases, retroactive pay, schedule flexibility, job security, retirement and more at American, Alaska, Southwest and other airlines, according to the release.

The strike vote results were announced at the Cleveland airport and at other airports nationwide at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

According to the release, United flight attendants are demanding “significant 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 said. “The 99.99% yes vote is a clear reminder that we are unified in the fight against corporate greed and ready to fight for our fair share of the profits we create.”

Before the strike decision was made, FOX 8 reached out for comment from United Airlines, which stated, “To be clear, there is no work stoppage or labor disruption. Instead, off-duty flight attendants are exercising their right to conduct an informational picket. Federal law bars a strike until after a lengthy process that includes a release from mediation, which can only be granted by the National Mediation Board.”

United Airlines also released a statement saying, “We continue to work toward an industry-leading agreement for our flight attendants, including negotiations this week and every month through November. Both sides have been actively engaged in these negotiations facilitated by the federal mediator requested by the union. We remain eager to reach an agreement. “

Now that the strike has been authorized, the union could request a release from the National Mediation Board, which would lead to a 30-day “cooling off” period and strike deadline.

According to the release, United flight attendants filed for federal mediation over eight months ago and have been working under an amendable contract for nearly three years.

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