Negotiations Between American Flight Attendants and Management Reach Critical Phase
Breakdown in Talks Over Boarding Pay and Raises
Flight Attendants Protest at White House
Flight attendants employed by American Airlines, represented by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), have brought their contract fight to the White House, seeking support in their negotiations with management.
The main sticking points in the negotiations are boarding pay and raises. Flight attendants are the only employees at American Airlines who have not received a raise in the past five years. Meanwhile, CEO Robert Isom received a staggering 314% increase in compensation in 2023.
APFA is proposing a 33% pay increase to top out at $91 an hour during the first year of a new contract, with smaller increases in subsequent years. They are also seeking boarding pay at half of the hourly rate for each boarding.
Management has offered the first flight attendant union contract to include boarding pay matching non-union Delta. However, APFA President Sara Nelson has agreed to forego boarding pay if the airline commits to raises for flight attendants.
Negotiations have entered a critical phase, and flight attendants are ready for a contract that includes improvements not only to compensation but also to retirement, scheduling flexibility, and overall work-life balance.
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