Flight Attendants Mount Contract Day of Action at United Airlines

At airports across the nation and from around the world, Flight Attendants are holding a Day of Action today to call attention to the challenges they are facing while bargaining a contract with United Airlines.

AFA-CWA International President Sara Nelson said bargaining with the airline has nearly grounded to a halt as United is unwilling, even as it invests $100 million in a Brazilian airline, to put the required economic resources into a Flight Attendant Contract.

So, today, starting in Hong Kong, China, Narita International Airport in Japan, Guam, Frankfurt International Airport in Germany, Flight Attendants began demonstrations to let United know its workers will stand together to win a fair contract. It is a system-wide Day of Action at all United Airline's 16 base locations, including at Washington Dulles, where they were joined by CWA President Chris Shelton who said he was impressed by the strength the workers are showing.

"Flight Attendants are helping United Airlines generate huge profits, making it one of the most profitable in the nation," Shelton said. "But when it comes contract time, United says no, none for you. What you're doing today is showing them that you're not going to be pushed around."

CWA Secretary-Treasurer Sara Steffens, CWA Telecommunications and Technologies Vice President Lisa Bolton and NABET-CWA President Charlie Braico participated in the Washington action. Other locations included London, Boston, New York, Newark, Chicago, San Francisco, Denver, Seattle, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Honolulu. The workers have targeted July 23rd as the date for an agreement but it will take a very serious turn around at the bargaining table to get there. Flight Attendants were joined at the National Day of Action by other CWA Locals, allies and progressive groups.

Photographs and videos from the action are available here.

"We are standing up to make it clear to United Airlines that we will fight to get fairness," Nelson said.

United has failed to reach a unified labor contract with its 24,000 Flight Attendants following the airline's October 2010 merger with Continental. United Airlines is making record profits and its 2015 income is projected to be more than five times higher than in 2013; operating profit in 2015-2017 is expected to be $5 billion or more in each year; United has $7 Billion in cash on its balance sheet and its stock price has jumped 162% since negotiations began; United Airlines Chief Executive Jeff Smisek's pay is up 32%.

"This merger was initiated five years ago," Nelson said. "Executives and shareholders are cashing in while passengers and Flight Attendants are left dealing with the frustrations of a fractured operation. Enough is enough. United needs to negotiate within the reality of record profits and get this merger done. It's Our Turn and It's Past Time."

Flight Attendants, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, are demonstrating their solidarity for a joint Contract that recognizes and respects what each worker has brought to the airline and the hard work they all do every day to make United Airlines fly safe.

Joining participants in the Washington Dulles International Airport Day of Action were AFA-CWA President Sara Nelson and CWA President Chris Shelton.

Showing the worldwide scope of the action were workers at Narita International Airport in Japan.

Workers at the London Heathrow International Airport showed strength and solidarity.

Members at Newark Liberty International Airport showed up because they know they're in a fight.