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

On August 15, American Airlines passenger service workers – members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA)-International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Association – walked picket lines at 10 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. They were joined by other union members, community supporters, and elected officials.

Picketing locations included: Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, St. Louis, Miami, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix.

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, passenger service workers risked their own health and safety to continue serving the flying public and aided the airline industry’s economic recovery along the way,” said CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. “These workers deserve respect and they deserve a contract that recognizes their value to the company and the industry. It’s time for American Airlines to stop stalling and get serious at the bargaining table.”

“Passenger service and reservation agents like us are on the frontlines of our airline industry, assisting passengers and keeping air travel on schedule and safe,” said Zattier Marvin, President of Local 3641 in Charlotte, North Carolina. “Many of us have not received wage increases in four years. On top of our low pay, we are often the target of verbal and physical assaults just for performing our duties. Poverty wages and unsafe working conditions shouldn’t fly. We need a strong contract now.”

After 10 months of negotiations between American Airlines and the CWA-IBT bargaining team, American Airlines has yet to respond to critical proposals that will ensure job security and fair pay for passenger service members. 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. Negotiations between the CWA-IBT and American Airlines will resume in September.

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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.