American Airlines Averts Potential Holiday Season Strike

Flight attendants' request for contract release denied, negotiations to continue amid pay dispute

The National Mediation Board has denied a request by American Airlines flight attendants to be released from their contract negotiations, preventing a potential strike over the holiday season.
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) made the release request citing talks that began in February 2019 and involved 41 weeks of direct negotiations and two months of talks involving U.S. mediators.
The flight attendants are seeking a 35% pay increase, with 6% annual wage increases in a three-year deal, while American has proposed an 11% increase with 2% yearly increases for a five-year contract.
American Airlines also proposes to pay flight attendants during boarding, a move that would make the 11% raise more like 18%, matching Delta's decision last year.
Despite the setback, the APFA plans to intensify pressure on the company and continue to assert their rights under the Railway Labor Act.