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American Airlines flight attendants’ starting salaries are just $27,000. A new contract will put billions into compensation, union says

American Airlines and Flight Attendants Reach Tentative Contract Agreement

Avoiding a Strike

American Airlines Group Inc. and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) have reached a tentative contract agreement after more than a year of negotiations. The deal, which addresses union concerns on compensation, retroactive pay, and work rules, is likely to avert the threat of a strike during the summer travel season.

What’s in the Agreement?

The pact, which must be approved by the APFA board of directors and executive committee before a membership vote takes place, addresses key issues for flight attendants. While the terms of the agreement have not been released, the union has stated that it will provide billions of additional dollars in compensation and work rules for flight attendants. The agreement will also provide immediate financial and quality-of-life improvements for American’s flight attendants.

Averting a Crisis

The agreement comes after a potential walkout had been growing as a concern for the summer travel season, which is expected to set records for passenger numbers. The National Mediation Board, which had been overseeing talks for more than a year, pushed both sides in recent months to avoid a stalemate that could have moved flight attendants a step closer to a strike.

Reaction from Officials

President Joe Biden praised the sides for reaching an agreement, saying in a statement that it "averts a strike that would have been devastating for the industry and consumers." The airline and union had been at odds over issues such as compensation, work rules, and total compensation, with the union seeking to match agreements reached at rival airlines.

Lengthy Negotiations

The airline and union began talks in January 2019 before meetings were suspended by the pandemic, and resumed in August 2021. American’s flight attendants haven’t received a raise since 2019, and first-year workers make $27,000 a year before taxes, the union has said.

Other Airlines’ Agreements

Southwest Airlines Co. flight attendants approved a new $6.3 billion labor contract on April 24, while Delta Air Lines Inc. boosted pay 5% for non-union employees. Flight attendants at United Airlines Holdings Inc. are also in negotiations for a new contract, and the union representing Alaska Air Group Inc.’s flight attendants announced a tentative agreement on June 21.

Conclusion

The tentative contract agreement between American Airlines and the APFA is a significant development for both parties, avoiding the threat of a strike and providing improved compensation and work rules for flight attendants. The agreement demonstrates the importance of labor negotiations and the impact that collective bargaining can have on workers’ lives.

FAQs

Q: What is the tentative contract agreement between American Airlines and the APFA?
A: The agreement addresses union concerns on compensation, retroactive pay, and work rules, and must be approved by the APFA board of directors and executive committee before a membership vote takes place.

Q: What are the key issues that were addressed in the agreement?
A: The agreement addresses issues such as compensation, retroactive pay, and work rules, providing billions of additional dollars in compensation and work rules for flight attendants.

Q: Why was a strike a concern for the summer travel season?
A: A strike by American Airlines flight attendants could have had a significant impact on the airline industry and consumers, with the summer travel season expected to set records for passenger numbers.

Q: What other airlines have reached agreements with their flight attendants?
A: Southwest Airlines Co. flight attendants approved a new $6.3 billion labor contract on April 24, while Delta Air Lines Inc. boosted pay 5% for non-union employees. Flight attendants at United Airlines Holdings Inc. are also in negotiations for a new contract, and the union representing Alaska Air Group Inc.’s flight attendants announced a tentative agreement on June 21.

Author: fortune.com

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