United Airlines flight attendants have voted almost unanimously in favor of a strike, hoping to put pressure on management during collective bargaining negotiations.
But what impact could this have on service for anyone with travel plans, especially over the busy Labor Day weekend?
At Newark Liberty International Airport, flight attendants were seen holding signs outside the airport announcing they would walk out of work. The union voted overwhelmingly – 99.99% – to strike after working on a temporary contract for nearly three years.
“We're here fighting for an industry-leading collective bargaining agreement and the industry-leading pay that was promised to us years ago,” said flight attendant Melissa Chipchak. “A lot of people don't realize that flight attendants don't get paid for the entire time they're on duty. They only get paid for the time they're flying when the door is closed.”
The union's demands of United Airlines include:
- Double-digit increase in basic salary
- Higher pay for working hours, including on the ground
- Retroactive payment
- Schedule flexibility
- Improvements to working rules
- Job security
- Pension provision
Flight attendants said they wanted to send a strong message to company executives as Labor Day travel begins to remind them of what's at stake. But will there be an impact on travel over the holiday weekend or in the near future?
The immediate answer is no.
In a statement to NBC New York, United Airlines said: “To be clear, this is not a walkout or work stoppage. Off-duty flight attendants are exercising their right to conduct an informational strike. Federal law prohibits a strike only after a lengthy process that includes a release from mediation, which can only be granted by the National Mediation Board.”
In the long term, however, any strike could have major implications – especially at Newark Airport, where United is the dominant airline.
Currently, the United Airlines flight attendants union could request an end to negotiations, but only after a 30-day grace period and a formal strike period.
