Hundreds of flight attendants converged on four Southern California airports Tuesday, Feb. 13 to demand higher wages and better working conditions. Flight attendants are seen here at Los Angeles International Airport. The rally was part of a “Worldwide Day of Action” that saw nearly 100,000 flight attendants from 24 airlines converge on 30 airports across the U.S., Guam and the U.K. (Photo courtesy of the Association of Flight Attendants)
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.
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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.
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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 cleaners or a doctor’s appointment.”
Green said 960 Alaska flight attendants based out of LAX earn a starting annual wage of $26,946 — about 20% less than what competing airlines pay.
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“Most of us live in Southern California, and it’s not enough to keep up with the high housing costs,” the 49-year-old Tustin resident said. “That starting wage wouldn’t even cover a studio apartment.”
Alaska flight attendants last went on strike in 1993.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Alaska Airlines said it has been offering “industry-leading top-of-scale pay” for months, with an immediate 15% raise to the entire pay scale and additional raises every year.
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“With six recently closed labor deals at the company and a tentative agreement reached in January for a new contract for our technicians, we’re hopeful to do the same for our flight attendants as soon as possible,” the airline said.
Alaska flight attendants picketed LAX and John Wayne Airport in December over the same issues.
Evelyn Konen, a flight attendant with American Airlines and an APFA ambassador, said her union is asking for a 33% pay hike.
“We believe that would be feasible,” the 34-year-old Redondo Beach resident said. “We all live in high-cost cities. Our new hires are based in Boston, New York and Miami. And with a starting wage of $27,000 a year … that won’t take you anywhere.”
American said it hopes to reach middle ground with the union.
Also see: Alaska flight attendants picket John Wayne Airport, LAX over wages
“The proposal we’ve had on the table since September 2023 includes increased pay, the addition of boarding pay and other meaningful improvements,” the airline said Tuesday. “We remain at the negotiating table, ready to make a deal.”
APFA President Julie Hedrick, whose union represents 27,000 American flight attendants, said it’s time for the employees to get “a fair share of the value we create.”
“We’re telling management to stop playing games and negotiate the contracts that we’ve earned,” she said. “Flight attendants are speaking with one voice.”
Southwest said it is scheduled to meet next week with the Transport Workers Union and National Mediation Board to “continue working toward an agreement that benefits our flight attendants and Southwest.”
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Southwest flight attendants approved a strike mandate last month after rejecting a tentative contract in February.
Similar protests were held Tuesday at airports in Las Vegas, Portland, New York and Seattle, among others.
“This industry doesn’t fly without us,” the three union presidents said in a statement. “And if management wants to continue to play games, they’ll learn just how true that is.”
