United Airlines flight attendants vote yes on strike authorization

The labor union representing United Airlines flight attendants held a rally on Wednesday at O'Hare Airport, where they announced a strike authorization if contract negotiations with the Chicago-based carrier reach an impasse.

It was the first time since United’s 2005 bankruptcy negotiations that flight attendants with the airline voted yes on strike authorization, according to its union, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA.

At least 200 United flight attendants and supporters marched outside O’Hare between Terminals 1 and 2 — ahead of the busy Labor Day travel period. They chanted slogans and held yellow signs that read “Pay Us or Chaos” and “Corporate Greed Doesn’t Fly” as well as “United Management: #1 in Operational Ego.”

They were joined by other pickets held at 20 airports across the country, including Denver, San Francisco and Newark, New Jersey.

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA said 99.99% voted yes to a strike authorization with 90.21% participating in the vote. The union represents about 28,000 United flight attendants, including 2,800 based out of O'Hare.

Before a strike would take place, there are many procedural steps that could take at least a couple of months. Meanwhile, negotiations between United management and the flight attendants union will continue under a federal mediator.

United said in a statement: “We continue to work toward an industry-leading agreement for our flight attendants, including negotiations this week and every month through November. To be clear, there is no work stoppage or labor disruption. Instead, off-duty flight attendants are exercising their right to conduct an informational picket. Federal law bars a strike until after a lengthy process that includes a release from mediation, which can only be granted by the National Mediation Board.”

The flight attendants are demanding double-digit base pay increases, pay for time at work on the ground, schedule flexibility and work rule improvements, retirement security and more.

“We are working longer and working harder,” said Scott Pejas, a United flight attendant and president of Local United AFA Council 8, which represents members based at O’Hare.

Yet working conditions are “the worst we’ve seen in history,” said Pejas, a Chicago resident who has been with United for 28 years. Staffing has not increased and United flight attendants have not gotten raises in three years, he said.

One grievance is that flight attendants are only paid for the time after plane doors close and until they open — not for boarding, check-in, deplaning and wait times, Pejas said.

United flight attendants “are being taken advantage of by executives who are padding their pockets instead of providing for their employees,” Ann Labbe, a flight attendant with United for 24 years, said at Wednesday’s rally.

The Wisconsin resident, who works out of O’Hare, said working conditions at the airline are “horrible.” She cited management’s “lack of respect” for flight attendants.

This spring, United reported large pay hikes for executives. CEO Scott Kirby made $18.5 million in 2023, compared to nearly $9.8 million the previous year, according to securities filing.

Ken Diaz, president of the United chapter of AFA, led a chant during Wednesday's rally. He said in a statement, “We are the face of United Airlines and planes don’t take off without us. As Labor Day travel begins, United management is reminded what’s at stake if we don’t get this done.”

In April, United flight attendants picketed at O’Hare to demand better wages and working conditions, as part of a worldwide day of action at 17 airports.

Lake View resident Kim Fritsch, a United flight attendant for five years, was “very excited” about Wednesday's strike authorization.

“We are tired of mistreatment from management and are willing to do whatever it takes to get a contract approved. The strike vote shows that,” Fritsch said.

She's not a labor union officer but she had volunteered to call and text hundreds of colleagues to remind them to vote.

United flight attendants filed for federal mediation more than eight months ago and have been in negotiations for nearly three years after their last contract expired.

“Both sides have been actively engaged in these negotiations facilitated by the federal mediator requested by the union. We remain eager to reach an agreement,” United said in a statement.