United Airlines flight attendants have voted to authorize a strike, signaling their readiness to take action after nearly three years without a contract update. However, despite the overwhelming support for the strike authorization, it’s unlikely that a walkout will occur soon.
The flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), are pushing for a new contract that reflects their role in the airline’s success. “We deserve an industry-leading contract. Our strike vote shows we’re ready to do whatever it takes to reach the contract we deserve,” said Ken Diaz, president of the United chapter of AFA. The vote resulted in a 99.99% approval rate, emphasizing the union’s unity and determination to fight for what they believe is their fair share of the company’s profits.
Despite this strong stance, passengers planning to travel over the upcoming Labor Day weekend can rest easy. The strike vote is a procedural step and does not mean flight attendants will immediately stop working. United’s negotiations with flight attendants are currently being overseen by the National Mediation Board, which requires several more steps before any strike action could occur.
For flight attendants to strike, they would first need an official release from the ongoing negotiations with United Airlines management. If granted, both parties would enter a mandatory 30-day cooling-off period. During this time, they could potentially move to arbitration to reach an agreement. Additionally, President Joe Biden could intervene by forming a Presidential Emergency Board to prevent a strike. Only if these measures fail would United’s flight attendants be permitted to strike.
It’s important to note that although flight attendants at several major U.S. airlines have conducted strike authorization votes in recent years, none have led to an actual strike. This vote by United’s flight attendants follows a similar pattern, serving primarily as a signal to management of their dissatisfaction and readiness to escalate if necessary.
