Hundreds of frustrated flight attendants converged on four Southern California airports Tuesday, Feb. 13, demanding higher wages and better working conditions.
Armed with picket signs reading, “Corporate greed doesn’t fly” and “Pay us or CHAOS,” employees with Alaska, United, American and other airlines said they’re underpaid and not being compensated for the time they spend boarding, deplaning and waiting between flights. They’re also demanding retirement benefits and more flexible schedules.
The rallies at Los Angeles International Airport, John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Ontario International Airport and San Diego International Airport were part of a “Worldwide Day of Action” that saw nearly 100,000 flight attendants from 24 airlines gather at 30 airports across the U.S., Guam and the U.K.
Also see: United flight attendants rally at LAX for higher wages
No flight disruptions were reported at the four area airports.
Two-thirds of the flight attendants are in labor negotiations with their employers, including Alaska, American, United, Southwest and Frontier airlines. They are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants, Association of Professional Flight Attendants and Transport Workers Union.
AFA-represented Alaska flight attendants upped the pressure Tuesday, announcing they voted to authorize a strike if management fails to improve work conditions.
Also see: Breeze Airways flight attendants file for union election
AFA has a trademarked strike strategy known as CHAOS, or Create Havoc Around Our System. In that system, a strike could affect the entire system or a single flight. The union decides when, where and how to strike without notice to management or passengers.
“It’s frustrating,” said Tim Green, Alaska AFA president. “We’re not being paid for the time we’re on the ground, and that could easily be two to four hours between flights. We’re on the clock, but you can’t take a break to go to the dry…
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