The United Airlines flight attendants union held a rally at O’Hare Airport on Wednesday and announced that it would allow a strike if wage negotiations with the Chicago-based airline reach an impasse.
According to the Association of Flight Attendants (CWA) union, it was the first time the airline’s flight attendants voted to authorize a strike since United’s bankruptcy negotiations in 2005.
At least 200 United flight attendants and supporters marched outside O’Hare airport between Terminals 1 and 2 ahead of the busy Labor Day travel season. They chanted slogans and held yellow signs that read: “Pay us or chaos” and “Corporate greed is not acceptable” as well as “United management: No. 1 in operational ego.”
Flight attendants from Chicago-based United Airlines and supporters demonstrate at O’Hare.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
They were joined by other pickets at 20 airports across the country, including Denver, San Francisco and Newark, New Jersey.
The Association of Flight Attendants (CWA) said 99.99% of flight attendants voted in favor of a strike, with a turnout of 90.21%. The union represents about 28,000 United flight attendants, including 2,800 at O’Hare.
Before a strike can occur, many procedural steps must be completed, which could take at least a few months. In the meantime, negotiations between United management and the flight attendants’ union will continue under a federal mediator.
United said in a statement: “We continue to work toward an industry-leading agreement for our flight attendants, including negotiations this week and every month through November. To be clear, there is no walkout or work stoppage. Instead, 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 mediation release that can only be granted by the National Mediation Board.”
The flight attendants are demanding a double-digit increase in base salary, payment for time on the ground, more flexible working hours and improved working rules, retirement benefits and more.
“We’re working longer and harder,” said Scott Pejas, a United flight attendant and chairman of Local United AFA Council 8, which represents O’Hare-based members.
Still, working conditions are “the worst we’ve ever seen,” says Pejas, who lives in Chicago and has worked at United for 28 years. The number of employees has not been increased and United’s flight attendants have not received a raise in three years, he says.
One point of criticism is that flight attendants are only paid for the time after the aircraft doors close until they open – but not for boarding, checking in, disembarking and waiting times, says Pejas.
United flight attendants “are being taken advantage of by executives who are lining their pockets instead of taking care of their employees,” said Ann Labbe, a United flight attendant for 24 years, at Wednesday’s rally.
The Wisconsin-based airline operator, who works at O’Hare, said working conditions at the airline are “appalling,” citing management’s “lack of respect” for flight attendants.
This spring, United reported big pay raises for executives, with CEO Scott Kirby earning $18.5 million in 2023, up from nearly $9.8 million last year, securities filings show.
Ken Diaz, President of the United Chapter of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Ken Diaz, president of the United affiliate of the AFA, led a chant during Wednesday’s rally. In a statement, he said, “We are the face of United Airlines and without us, no planes take off. As travel begins on Labor Day, United management is reminded of what is at stake if we don’t get this right.”
In April, United flight attendants went on strike at O’Hare Airport to demand better pay and working conditions. The protest was part of a global day of action at 17 airports.
Kim Fritsch, a Lake View resident and United flight attendant for five years, was “very excited” about Wednesday’s strike authorization.
“We have had enough of the mistreatment by management and are prepared to do anything to get a contract approved. The strike vote shows that,” said Fritsch.
Although she is not a union official, she volunteered to call and text hundreds of colleagues to remind them to vote.
United flight attendants filed for federal mediation more than eight months ago and have been in negotiations nearly three years after their last contract expired.
“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,” United said in a statement.
