United Airlines flight attendants have voted to authorize a strike, the Association of Flight Attendants (CWA) announced on Wednesday.
The union said more than 90 percent of flight attendants participated and 99.99 percent of votes were in favor of authorizing the strike.
The company added that this is the first time United Airlines flight attendants have voted to authorize a strike since the airline's 2005 bankruptcy negotiations.
More than 28,000 flight attendants at Chicago-based airlines that are members of AFA are negotiating for a double-digit base pay increase and hourly pay increases, as well as ground shift work, retroactive pay, flexible work schedules and improved work rules.
“As Labor Day travel begins, United's leadership is reminded of what's at stake if they don't get this done,” said Ken Diaz, president of the AFA United chapter.
The situation comes amid new contract negotiations in the United States and Canada, where airline flight attendants are also seeking compensation for ground duties such as boarding passengers and waiting between flights.
Last year, United Airlines flight attendants filed for federal arbitration through the National Mediation Board (NMB).
The union added that it could ask the NMB for a release leading to a 30-day “cooling off period” and the strike deadline.
Although the strike has been authorized, flight attendants cannot take time off work until the board of directors gives permission, determining that negotiations between the two sides have reached an impasse and further negotiations would be fruitless.
