CHICAGO — Over 200 United Airlines flight attendants and their supporters picketed at O’Hare International Airport here Aug. 28, demanding a new contract. Similar actions took place the same day at some 20 other airports. Chants included “What do we want? Contract! When do we want it? Now!”
“This is the three-year anniversary of when the amendable contract came up,” Scott Pejas, president of Association of Flight Attendants-CWA in Chicago, told this Militant worker-correspondent. This is federal-government-speak for when the union could begin negotiations for a new contract under the anti-union Railway Labor Act, which ties up flight attendants in red tape and delays.
“That means we have gotten no pay increases for three years,” Pejas said. “Look at how prices have increased in the same period. During the pandemic we were furloughed and now with record company profits United Airlines wants more concessions. Negotiations are proceeding at a snail’s pace.”
The union is fighting for double-digit pay raises, more flexible schedules and pay for all time they are working.
The same day as the pickets, the union announced its members nationwide voted by 99.99% to authorize a strike.