United Airlines Flight Attendants have made a resounding statement with a 99.99% vote in favor of strike authorization.

With 90.21% of the union members participating, the message to United's management is clear: significant improvements in their contract are non-negotiable.

The results, which come at a critical time just ahead of the Labour Day travel rush, were announced simultaneously across nearly 20 informational picket lines at major airports nationwide.

“We deserve an industry-leading contract. Our strike vote shows we’re ready to do whatever it takes to reach the contract we deserve,” stated Ken Diaz, president of the United chapter of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA). “We are the face of United Airlines, and planes don’t take off without us. As Labour Day travel begins, United management is reminded what’s at stake if we don’t get this done.”

This strike authorization marks a historic moment for United’s flight attendants, who last voted on such a measure during the 2005 bankruptcy negotiations. The move mirrors recent trends in the airline industry, where similar votes at American, Alaska, Southwest and other carriers have spurred negotiations forward.

Key demands from United’s flight attendants include significant double-digit base pay increases, compensation for time spent working on the ground, retroactive pay to the contract’s amendable date, enhanced schedule flexibility, job security, retirement benefits, and other work rule improvements.

“The United management team gives themselves massive compensation increases while flight attendants struggle to pay basic bills,” Diaz continued. “The 99.99% yes vote is a clear reminder that we are unified in the fight against corporate greed and ready to fight for our fair share of the profits we create.”

With the strike authorization now in hand, the AFA could request a release from the National Mediation Board (NMB), triggering a 30-day "cooling-off" period that would precede any strike action. The union is prepared to implement its CHAOS (Create Havoc Around Our System) strategy, which allows for strikes that could range from system-wide disruptions to targeting specific flights, with little to no advance notice to management or passengers.

United flight attendants have been working under an amendable contract for nearly three years and filed for federal mediation over eight months ago, further heightening tensions as Labor Day travel approaches.

Source: Travelweek