Recently, the union representing roughly 28,000 flight attendants at American announced that the airline failed to reach an agreement after intensive contract negotiations and that as a result, members should prepare for strike action when given permission.
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) and American had two weeks of mediation with the National Mediation Board (NMB) in Washington, D.C. The sessions were followed by three weeks of discussions in Dallas. However, the two parties failed to reach an agreement.
In a statement, according to the union, the NMB will potentially bring the airline and union back together in a so-called last-ditch effort within the next two weeks. Even so, if American and the union refuse to budge and resolve the ongoing matter, the NMB may release the flight attendants for strike action.
In the meantime, it will be up to the NMB and potentially other federal government officials to decide whether the carrier’s flight attendants can strike and not before a 30-day cooling-off period. Flight attendants were advised not to engage in illegal work stoppages and slowdowns.
