United Airlines flight attendants announced the results of a strike vote at Denver International Airport on Wednesday morning. The workers say their unmet demands – job security, pay, pensions and more – are grounds for a strike. “We haven’t had a strike vote in 40 years,” said Chris Burton, president of the local flight attendants’ union.
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They are now waiting for strike approval from the National Conciliation Board.
“We now have nearly 100% of the necessary approvals from our flight attendants to authorize a strike,” Burton said.
CBS News Colorado
Flight attendant voting began Aug. 1, and results will be released ahead of a busy Labor Day travel weekend. Hundreds of thousands of passengers are expected to fly through Denver International Airport over the weekend.
This vote marks the first time United flight attendants have voted on strike authorization since bankruptcy negotiations in 2005. Denver airport was one of nearly 20 locations across the country where workers picketed at the time.
Flight attendants say management has continued to try to delay a fair contract for them while the company rakes in big profits.
Russell Carlton, Corporate Communication Manager for United Airlines, responded with this 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.
