AUSTIN (KXAN) — United Airlines flight attendants at Austin Airport are demanding better pay, flexible hours and job security in the latest flight attendant strike voted on across the country.
According to a press release from the Association of Flight Attendants, this is the first time since 2005 that flight attendants at a major airline have voted to strike.
Some United Airlines employees demonstrated this morning at Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and at airports across the United States while awaiting the outcome of a vote to authorize a strike.
“United Airlines flight attendants are ready. It’s about time. We’re ready for the contract, we need a raise, we can’t wait any longer. We’re united and ready to get this contract done,” a flight attendant told KXAN.
This came on the heels of other recent strike authorization votes that advanced negotiations at Southwest, American, Alaska and other airlines.
KXAN reached out to United for comment and an airline spokesperson provided the following statement:
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.
To be clear, this is not a work stoppage or a work stoppage. Instead, the off-duty flight attendants are exercising their right to conduct an information 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.
United Media Relations
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