American Airlines Passenger Service Workers Rally Nationwide to Demand Fair Pay and Job Security

Over a year into negotiations for a new bargaining agreement, CWA passenger service members at American Airlines rallied outside eight airports as part of a national day of action to demand better pay and job security.

On November 14 and 15, American Airlines passenger service workers – members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA)-International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Association – walked picket lines at eight airports across the country to educate travelers about their fight for a fair collective bargaining agreement that guarantees job security, worker safety, adequate pay, and better working conditions.

Picketing locations included: Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Dallas-Fort Worth, Miami, Philadelphia, New York City, and Rhode Island.

“Throughout the pandemic, CWA passenger service workers risked their health and safety to the benefit of the airline industry’s bottom line,” said CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. “As workers on the frontlines of the airline industry, they are committed to continue to fight for what they deserve and will not stop until they successfully negotiate a collective bargaining agreement that recognizes their value to the company and industry.”

“Our members cannot wait any longer for American Airlines to address its reputation as being one of the largest U.S. airlines with the lowest pay,” said Heidi Andrews, an American Airlines customer service agent and chief steward for CWA Local 1171. “But with the airline industry constantly changing, we want to make sure passenger service workers are not only paid fairly, but are also guaranteed a future in the industry so we can continue to do the job we love.”

More than a year after negotiations between American Airlines and the CWA-IBT bargaining team began, the company refuses to acknowledge the value passenger service agents provide by guaranteeing job security and fair wages for its passenger service workers in a collective bargaining agreement.

As the airline industry continues to face major challenges, this group of workers plays a critical role in ensuring passengers receive quality service and the support they need to reach their destinations. They deserve a contract that recognizes their value to the company and the industry. Negotiations between the CWA-IBT and American Airlines resume this month.

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About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields, including more than 20,000 passenger service agents who work for American Airlines and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Envoy Air and Piedmont Airlines.

cwa-union.org @cwaunion