Flight attendants at United Airlines may strike, but it’s still not very likely.
On Wednesday, flight attendants at United Airlines voted in favor of a strike authorization, but this does not mean they will immediately stop working.
The flight attendants have been waiting nearly three years to renegotiate their contract, as noted by the Association of Flight Attendants, and talks are still happening. They are among several airline employee groups to recently approve a strike authorization.
Ken Diaz, the president of the United chapter of AFA, stated, “We deserve a top-tier contract. Our vote for a strike indicates our determination to achieve the contract we are entitled to. The 99.99% affirmative vote highlights our solidarity against corporate greed and our commitment to securing a fair share of the profits we generate.”
However, travelers planning to fly over the Labor Day weekend can breathe a little easier. The strike vote is mainly a procedural action. While it does increase the likelihood of a strike, it’s improbable that flight attendants will actually leave their jobs soon. If a strike does occur, it won’t be immediate.
The negotiations for United’s flight attendants are currently with the National Mediation Board, and the attendants would need to officially request to be released from discussions with management. If this request is approved, a mandatory 30-day cooling-off period would begin, during which arbitration might occur to resolve the issues. During this time, President Joe Biden could intervene by establishing a Presidential Emergency Board to prevent a strike. If he chooses not to do so, only then could United’s flight attendants initiate a strike.
Flight attendants at several major U.S. airlines have voted for strike authorization in recent years, but no actual strikes have taken place.