FORT WORTH (WBAP/KLIF News ) – After years of tense negotiations, American Airlines flight attendants voted Thursday to ratify a new five-year labor deal.
Cabin crews will get more than twenty-percent immediate raises beginning next month.
In a Facebook post, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants said more than 87 percent of the union approved the deal.
The new stipulations adds $4.2 billion dollars in pay and benefits for crew members. In a statement, APFA said the agreement includes out-year wage increases, address many quality-of-life issues and improves scheduling, rescheduling and reserve work rules.
“Among the many improvements, the contract includes a new sit rig for compensation for long sits between flights, and American Airlines Flight Attendants become the first unionized workgroup to lock in pay for boarding,” said APFA National President Julie Hedrick.
American CEO Robert Isom also applauded the deal.
“Reaching an agreement for our flight attendants has been a top priority, and today, we celebrate achieving this important milestone,” he said in a statement.
The development comes after the Fort Worth-based carrier and APFA leadership reached a tentative agreement in July after federal mediation.
Voting on the contract was held starting August 13 and closed Thursday afternoon. APFA represents the Fort Worth-based carrier’s 28,000 crew members.
The development came amid the looming threat of a flight attendant strike if the two sides could not reach a deal.
The airline industry has been dealing tensions between management and its unions, with employees demanding better pay and other quality of life issues for years. Dallas-based Southwest Airlines and its flight attendants reached a contract deal in April.
United Airlines flight attendants are still negotiating with management for a new contract.
Alaska Airlines flight crews rejected a tentative labor deal in August.
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