American Airlines flight attendants say their pay is so low, they fight for airplane meals to save money and sleep in their cars—and they’re ready to strike
https://fortune.com/2024/06/08/american-airlines-flight-attendants-say-their-pay-is-so-low-they-fight-for-airplane-meals-to-save-money-and-sleep-in-their-cars-and-theyre-ready-to-strike/
by FUSeekMe69
10 comments
They are asking for 32k a year for flight attendants? That’s less than California fast food workers. It is 27k for entry now
Then airline requires them to live in California, New York and more where foot traffic is more frequent.
AA is awful. Wont fly them again.
As an airline pilot, can confirm. Airlines fully leverage a ‘passion job,’ with low barriers to entry, to drive low pay with rough work rules. I’ve worked with FAs who were burned out chemists, doctors, one was a retired police chief from a big city. Most aren’t doing the job for the money, but they also need to live, and airlines are notorious for dragging out contract negotiations for years longer than necessary to delay the costs of post-contract labor, even with retro pay.
How did we get here? Turning a dream job into a nightmare.
I feel like the FA would have all the leverage in this if they were to strike. AA would essentially melt down with the amount of cancellations and they would be forced to come to a compromise ASAP.
Also with the amount of competition the airline industry has, they would be at major risk of losing thousands of consumers to other airlines permanently.
If I understood the article correctly, flight attendants only get paid when the airplane is actually in the air. That is the first thing that needs to be addressed. If they are present and working in any capacity, they need to be paid. They should also get paid overtime as well and free meals. Reduce executive pay and bonuses. They do not work as hard as the flight attendants.
Good. They are horrible people.
Do it
This: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes532031.htm says the annual mean wage for a flight attendant is roughly $71,000/year. A google search also says that annual average salary for American Airlines flight attendants is $47,000. That’s a pretty big gap.
Fuck that. They should all mass quit. Sounds like a shitty job anyway.