Alaska Airlines flight attendants authorized a strike on Tuesday.
The strike comes as flight attendants organized protests at over 30 major airports across the nation on Tuesday.
Driving the news: The protests are in response to ongoing contract negotiations for flight attendants at United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Air Wisconsin, American Airlines, Omni, and Frontier.
- The flight attendants are demanding fair compensation, retirement security, and more flexibility and control over their lives.
- Several labor unions representing over 100,000 flight attendants are participating in the protests.
- While the protests were not a strike, American Airlines flight attendants authorized a strike last year, and United Airlines flight attendants filed for federal mediation in December.
- Alaska Airlines flight attendants voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike on Tuesday if the airline does not agree to significant improvements.
What they’re saying: “Our time is now!” said AFA Alaska President Jeffrey Peterson. “We’re out on the picket line demonstrating that we’re ready to do whatever it takes to get the contract we deserve. There’s no excuse: Alaska management has the money to buy another airline; they certainly have the money to invest in flight attendants. We have a simple message for management: Pay us, or CHAOS!”
