CHICAGO (NewsNation) — Thousands of United Airlines flight attendants are protesting for a new contract across the United States and the United Kingdom.
Airline workers say they’ve been without a contract for two years and are demanding hefty pay increases.
The flight attendants are increasingly frustrated that pilots won huge pay raises last year while they continue to work for wages that, in some cases, have not increased in several years. They further say while they’ve been without a contract for two years, CEO Scott Kirby made nearly $19 million in 2023.
Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants, said it’s about time flight attendants get recognized and compensated fairly for their hard work and dedication to the company. The AFA is the union representing more than 25,000 United Airlines workers in negotiation discussions.
Nelson, who was on the picket line Thursday in Chicago, said the association is fighting for a record contract.
Last year, United Airlines saw record profits and all the executives within the company received double-digit pay raises, she said. Plus, the last time the association negotiated a contract with the airline was in 2016. The last time flight attendants received a pay raise was in 2020.
“We helped the airline get through COVID. Through the pandemic. Through its roughest time,” Nelson said Friday on “Morning in America.” “We put forward the plan that got the federal relief to keep us flying. And it’s high time that we’re getting a return for all of our hard work and sacrifice.”
This week’s protest comes as negotiators return for the second round of a federally-mediated bargaining session. Since the pandemic, attendants say working conditions have deteriorated, with more passengers than ever exhibiting “abusive” behavior.
“We continue to work toward an industry-leading agreement for our flight attendants. Our negotiations are continuing this week and we have additional dates scheduled later this month,” United Airlines said in a statement.
Nelson said while the airline was at the table this week for negotiations, it’s not moving fast enough. She explained that the union needs to put forth a credible strike threat from the National Mediation Board, the agency that oversees the negotiations.
“They need to face that pressure in order to meet the needs of the flight attendants on the front line and to get that record contract that is reflective of those record profits that we have helped generate,” Nelson said.
Still, it has been 29 months of negotiating, and the union’s demands still haven’t been met.
“The flight attendants are exhausted,” she said. “At a certain point, you can’t attract people to this job.”