Some American Airlines flight attendants say they are forced to live in their cars because they can’t balance the high cost of living in some areas with their paycheck if they are required to live in major metro areas.
Not even a 17 percent offer from American Airlines management to increase pay is enough for some flight attendants who are earning only $27,000 a year. The flight attendants’ union argues that is especially true if the flight attendants are forced to live in major metro areas surrounding New York, Los Angeles and Dallas, for instance.
Flight attendants at several airlines, including American, are in negotiations for a new contract. The union estimates there are 80,000 workers currently embroiled in contract negotiations.
Several thousand of them staged a coordinated picket at 30 airports earlier this week to protest.
“Flight Attendants cannot afford to wait any longer for these agreements and neither can the airlines,” said Sara Nelson, International President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, representing nearly 55,000 Flight Attendants at 20 airlines. “We’re done with hollow platitudes about how much Flight Attendants are ‘appreciated.’ Airlines need to get serious and reach agreements with us immediately. If not, we’re ready for next steps under the Railway Labor Act.”
Some American Airlines flight attendants find themselves in a catch-22. Even with the proposed increase from American Airlines, they are above the limit in some states to qualify for food stamps. The 17 percent pay increase offer was rejected by the flight attendants, some of whom, the union says, are fighting for extra shifts just to get the free meal when available.
American Airlines management even went as far as to issue some poverty verification letters to some flight attendants.
Earlier this week, 32 Senators called on the National Mediation Board to end delays and allow airline workers to strike if agreements can’t be reached.
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On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks to Brandon White, owner of Share the Magic Travel, to talk about his recent visit to the Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Flight attendants at Alaska Airlines reached a preliminary deal with the airline for a new contract on Friday, while cabin crew at American Airlines inched closer to a summertime strike.
American Airlines’ flight attendants’ union said Thursday that it did not reach a new contract with management. The union added that the National Mediation Board is debating whether to release both parties into a 30-day cooling off period, which could set the stage for a strike.
Smoke in the cabin. A tire blowout. A cracked windshield. No shortage of problems can affect a flight, fueling traveler anxiety and contributing to thousands of daily delays and cancellations around the world.
Whether they live five minutes away or are tourists on vacation, people love amusement parks. They just don’t expect their lives to be hanging in the balance when they visit one.