Association of Flight Attendants-CWA

CHICAGO (December 19, 2024) – On Thursday, December 19, United Airlines Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, demonstrated at airports around the world to make the latest announcement in their ongoing contract fight.

During the major Day of Action, United AFA leaders announced the opening of their G.U.T.S. – Gearing Up To Strike – list, where Flight Attendants can sign up to be called on first to strike, if and when Flight Attendants are released by the National Mediation Board.

Following United Flight Attendants’ overwhelming 99.99% strike authorization, Thursday’s Day of Action comes as United Airlines stock is up over 150% year to date at an all time high, and on the heels of United’s most profitable day in the history of the airline – December 1st – all while management is demanding unheard of concessions in stark contrast to public statements that Flight Attendants deserve an industry-leading contract.

The concessions management has proposed include raising the requirement to qualify for medical benefits, a rollback of sick leave coverage, reduce guaranteed monthly hours, lengthen shifts, reduce rest in between shifts, increase medical premiums and remove some medical plan options, and more. No other workgroup at United or across the industry has agreed to concessions. It’s a delay tactic, period.

United Flight Attendants filed for federal mediation nearly one year ago and have been working with an amendable contract since 2021.

Flight Attendants took to the street with nationwide informational pickets to ensure the flying public understand what Flight Attendants are facing as the December holiday travel season climbs to its peak with Christmas travel.

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The Association of Flight Attendants is the Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for over 79 years. Serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill, AFA has transformed the Flight Attendant profession by raising wages, benefits and working conditions. 55,000 Flight Attendants come together to form AFA, part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.