American Airlines flight attendants represented by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) will continue contract negotiations under the supervision of the National Mediation Board (NMB) this week. The NMB’s decision comes after the union requested twice for a release from mediation, a move that could lead to a strike action.
The APFA has been negotiating a new contract with American for nearly five years. In a Friday evening update, the union said that some progress was made during last week’s sessions, but “are still apart on the final key economic areas of the agreement.”
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su joined some of last week’s talks, the APFA said. The White House is also in contact with the parties.
Mediation sessions are expected to continue into this week. Earlier this month, American offered flight attendants a 17% pay bump, but this move was rejected by the APFA board.
The NMB will continue to facilitate talks between the two parties. If an agreement isn’t reached, the NMB may eventually propose arbitration or release the union to strike after a 30-day cooling-off period.
