The union representing American Airlines Group Inc.’s flight attendants said Thursday that the latest round of talks with the airline this week did not result in an agreement.
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), which represents about 28,000 American Airlines flight attendants, said it was approaching a strike because the airline had not offered a favorable agreement.
However, the airline’s cabin crew cannot take time off work until they receive permission from the National Mediation Board (NMB).
The board must first determine that the parties have reached an impasse and that further negotiations would not be productive.
This lengthy and complicated process makes it quite difficult for airline workers to go on strike.
Last year, the NMB rejected the union’s request to be released from federal arbitration.
American Airlines said in a statement emailed to Reuters on Thursday that it would continue negotiations with the union to ensure flight attendants receive contract benefits.
“We believe this agreement is achievable and we expect additional dates to be scheduled,” an airline spokesman said.
The current negotiations began in January 2020 but were suspended during the peak of the pandemic. Negotiations resumed in June 2021.
Earlier this month, the airline offered flight attendants an immediate 17% pay increase in new contracts, which was later unanimously rejected by APFA.
