SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — United Airlines flight attendants demonstrated outside San Diego International Airport Wednesday morning, joining a nationwide movement ahead of the busy Labor Day weekend.
Workers represented by the Association of Flight Attendants (CWA) called for serious negotiations with the airline over base salary increases, flexibility in scheduling, job security, retirement benefits and more.
United flight attendants strike at San Diego airport
The flight attendants of the largest airline nationwide have voted by a majority of 99.99 percent to go on strike if an agreement with management cannot be reached.
Timothy Truman, a union representative, told FOX 5/KUSI on Wednesday: “We have been negotiating with United Airlines for over three years now and we still don’t have a contract.”
He said starting Wednesday, travelers planning to fly United will no longer have to worry about a strike affecting their holiday weekend plans.
“If the government should say there is an impasse…if the government gives us a 30-day cooling-off period…and if no agreement is reached, then we would be permitted to take a ‘chaos action,'” Truman said. “A ‘chaos action’ is our form of strike.”
Construction worker dies after being trapped under a pipe in Scripps Ranch
A press release from the AFA stated that CHAOS (the acronym stands for “create havoc around our system”) could affect the entire system or a single flight.
According to AFA, this was the first time United flight attendants voted to authorize a strike since bankruptcy negotiations in 2005.
In a statement to FOX 5/KUSI, United Airlines said, “We continue to work toward an industry-leading agreement for our flight attendants, including negotiations this week and every month through November. Both sides have actively participated in these negotiations, which have been facilitated by the federal mediator requested by the union. We remain committed to reaching an agreement.”
The company added: “To be clear, this is not a work stoppage or work stoppage. Instead, the off-duty flight attendants are exercising their right to conduct an informational strike. Federal law prohibits a strike only after a lengthy process that includes a release from mediation, which can only be granted by the National Mediation Board.”
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports and streaming video, visit FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
