Both of the AFA-represented flight attendant groups voted overwhelmingly for strikes against their respective carriers.
American Eagle CRJ-900 aircraft in Charlotte (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
PSA Airlines and Frontier Airlines flight attendants, both represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), have voted overwhelmingly to authorize strikes at their respective carriers.
Over 1,300 flight attendants at American’s wholly-owned regional subsidiary PSA Airlines voted 99.2% to authorize a strike after months of rejected proposals from PSA management during contract negotiations, according to a news release from the AFA published on Tuesday.
PSA flight attendants are fighting for a double-digit base pay boost, and increased pay for time at work including boarding, sick leave, work rule improvements, and more. They filed for federal mediation in January, and management’s new contract proposal seven months later fell short of the union’s expectations.
Of the 1,300 flight attendants sent a strike ballot, 86.5% cast a vote in the nearly month-long decision to strike. Negotiations are scheduled to resume next week with oversight from the National Mediation Board.
“Our 99.2% vote shows PSA and American management that we will do whatever it takes to get the contract we have earned,” said Lee Wilkes, president of the PSA chapter of AFA-CWA, in the release. “We can’t afford to wait any longer. We’ll be back at the table next week with a message for management: it’s time to Pay Us or CHAOS™. PSA Flight Attendants need improvements now!”
“Flight Attendants at PSA and other regional airlines across the industry fly the same routes and provide the same service as mainline Flight Attendants,” said Sara Nelson, international president of AFA-CWA, in the release. “It’s time they get paid like it. Regional Flight Attendants deserve pay and benefits that reflect the value of their hard work.”
PSA Airlines is a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group operating 500 daily flights to nearly 100 destinations. Roughly 28,000 Association of Professional Flight Attendants members voted last week to ratify the union’s tentative agreement with American Airlines after years of bargaining.
PSA flight attendants weren’t the only group to authorize a strike on their carrier this week. Flight attendants at Frontier Airlines, also represented by AFA, voted 99.6% to authorize a strike with 92.7% participating on Wednesday.
According to a news release from AFA, the results come as management refuses to negotiate over the impact of the carrier’s business model change. AFA stated that Frontier management has a legal obligation to bargain over that impact, separate and distinct from their obligation to engage in regular contract negotiations – but the airline isn’t engaging in mediation through the National Mediation Board.
The AFA filed for federal mediation with the National Mediation Board in May after issuing a formal notice to management on April 3, 2024, that its “turn” plan constitutes a dispute under the Railway Labor Act, separate from regular contract negotiations.
A Frontier Airbus A320neo (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
“Frontier Flight Attendants are struggling to earn a living because of management’s new ‘out-and-back’ model,” said Jennifer Sala, AFA Frontier president, in the release. “The impact of this change has turned our lives and our paychecks upside down. The harm is real and happening right now. We’re ready to do whatever it takes to bring management to the table.”
AFA stated that Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle boasted in a virtual conference last week about operational changes resulting in real cost savings. The union stated that those savings are partially being paid for by flight attendants, and it called for the situation to be addressed by management and corrected immediately.
“Frontier management is putting their ‘cost savings’ plan on Flight Attendants’ backs,” Nelson said in the release. “It’s a gross example of corporate greed that devalues the contributions of these Flight Attendants to the airline and creates incredible instability for the people who make Frontier fly. Frontier must negotiate to reflect the impact of their completely new business model.”
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