99.99% of United Airlines Flight Attendants Vote to Authorize Strike, and More

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Historic Strike Authorization Vote by United Airlines Flight Attendants Puts Pressure on Management

United Airlines flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), voted 99.99% in favor of authorizing a strike if contract negotiations with the airline fail to result in significant improvements.

The historic vote, with over 90% participation, marks the first time since 2005 that United flight attendants have voted on strike authorization.

Key Points

• Flight attendants are demanding substantial double-digit base pay increases, pay for time worked on the ground, retroactive pay, schedule flexibility, improved work rules, job security, and better retirement benefits.

• The union believes United management is not negotiating in good faith, as flight attendants have been working under an amended contract since 2021.

• Strike authorization votes have recently helped move negotiations forward at other major airlines like American, Alaska, and Southwest.

• If a strike occurs, the union could use its trademarked CHAOS (Create Havoc Around Our System) strategy, allowing targeted strikes on specific flights or across the entire system without notice to management or passengers.

What It Means

The overwhelming 99.99% vote in favor of strike authorization sends a strong message to United Airlines management.

If a strike were to occur, it could cause significant disruptions to United's operations and inconvenience passengers, especially during peak travel periods like Labor Day weekend.

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