American Airways Group Inc. and the union for its flight attendants agreed on a tentative contract after US labor mediators pressed for a deal, probably averting the specter of a strike in the course of the summer season journey season.
The pact addresses union considerations on compensation, retroactive pay and work guidelines, the Affiliation of Skilled Flight Attendants stated Friday in a message to members. Phrases of the settlement weren’t instantly launched. It should be authorized by the APFA board of administrators and government committee earlier than a membership vote takes place.
“If approved, this agreement will put billions of additional dollars into compensation and work rules for flight attendants,” union President Julie Hedrick stated. The union represents 28,000 American employees.
The provider stated in a press release that the contract “will provide immediate financial and quality-of-life improvements for American’s flight attendants.”
The deal eases considerations that had been rising over a possible walkout throughout a summer season journey season anticipated to set information for passenger numbers. The Nationwide Mediation Board, which had been overseeing talks for greater than a yr, pushed either side in latest months to keep away from a stalemate that might have moved flight attendants a step nearer to a strike.
President Joe Biden praised the perimeters for reaching an settlement, together with officers overseeing the talks, saying in a press release that it “averts a strike that would have been devastating for the industry and consumers.”
If the pending settlement is rejected, negotiations would resume, opening the door for a possible strike later within the yr. The union already had been getting ready for a doable walkout, issuing an educational handbook to members and opening a command heart.
Prolonged Negotiations
The airline and union started talks in January 2019 earlier than conferences had been suspended by the pandemic, and resumed in August 2021.
American’s flight attendants haven’t acquired a elevate since 2019, and first-year employees make $27,000 a yr earlier than taxes, the union has stated. The talks had stalled partly over work guidelines and complete compensation, although American Chief Government Officer Robert Isom had pledged to match agreements reached at rival airways.
Southwest Airways Co. flight attendants authorized a brand new $6.3 billion labor contract on April 24, two days after Delta Air Strains Inc. boosted pay 5% for non-union workers with the job, setting compensation ranges that APFA sought to no less than match.
Southwest’s four-year settlement will present an preliminary 22.3% pay elevate, adopted by three annual will increase of three%, and employees will cut up a pool of no less than $364 million for bonuses primarily based on time labored throughout years the contract was negotiated.
Flight attendants at United Airways Holdings Inc. are additionally in negotiations for a brand new contract. The union representing Alaska Air Group Inc.’s flight attendants introduced a tentative settlement on June 21.
