AFA-CWA Members Picket in Nationwide Actions

Over the past week, Flight Attendants with United and Alaska Airlines, both represented by AFA-CWA, staged multiple actions at airports across the country. Both groups, who are in the middle of contract negotiations, expressed similar frustrations over staffing, pay, and benefits.

Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants also announced that they will take a strike vote after mounting frustrations in mediated negotiations. Just months after stating that Flight Attendant proposals were not “economically feasible,” Alaska management announced plans to purchase Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 billion. The hypocrisy angered Flight Attendants, who responded with pickets at eight major airports nationwide.

“The truth is Alaska management can afford an industry-leading contract,” said Jeffrey Peterson, president of the Alaska chapter of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. “Management’s unwillingness to present adequate proposals brought us to this strike vote announcement. Our quality of life is non-negotiable. We will not accept terms that leave us falling even further behind the industry for years to come. Enough. If you want to PLAY like a big airline, you need to PAY like one. It’s time for Alaska to pay us, or CHAOS.”

The acronym “CHAOS™” stands for “Create Havoc Around Our System.” With CHAOS, Flight Attendants decide when and how to strike without notice to management or passengers, either across the system or on a single flight. This method was used by Alaska Flight Attendants during their 1993-1994 contract dispute.

Similarly, United Airlines Flight Attendants took to the picket line last week, demonstrating at nineteen airports around the world. After decades of austerity and delayed improvements, United Flight Attendants are demanding a fair contract.

“Flight Attendants kept United in the air during the biggest crisis our industry has ever faced,” said Ken Diaz, President of the AFA United Master Executive Council. “We served our passengers through extreme challenges—the pandemic, a rash of unruly passenger behavior, and operational meltdowns. It’s time for United to stop playing games and negotiate a fair contract that recognizes our contribution to this airline’s record success.”

“We’ve been at the table for over two years while United management’s heads were in the clouds,” said Diaz. “We’re done being disrespected. We’re going to negotiate a contract that reflects our contribution to this company, and we’re not going to let management delay any longer.”

CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. on the picket line in Houston with United Airlines Flight Attendants.

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Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants gathered at San Diego Airport to demand better pay.

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Flight Attendants and supporters rallied outside of John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Calif.

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This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.