United Airlines flight attendants have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike.
More than 90% of union members in United's chapter of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA participated in the vote, supporting it nearly unanimously.
The vote, however, does not mean that a strike is imminent. Under the Railway Labor Act, which regulates strike actions in the airline industry, several more steps would have to play out before United flight attendants could walk off the job, including the receipt of a formal release by the National Mediation Board (NMB).
Still, a strike authorization raises the stakes during formal mediation sessions, which are ongoing between United and the union.
Alaska, Southwest and American flight attendants all used strike authorization votes as a negotiating tactic in recent rounds of labor negotiations. Southwest and Alaska have since completed new labor deals with flight attendants, while American has entered into a tentative agreement with its flight attendants.
The labor agreement between United and the AFA has been amendable since August 2021; the union filed for mediation more than eight months ago.
In a statement, United emphasized that the vote does not equate to a work stoppage. The airline said that it continues to work toward an agreement with its flight attendants, including negotiations this week and every month through November.
"Both sides have been actively engaged in these negotiations facilitated by the federal mediator requested by the union. We remain eager to reach an agreement," the airline said.
AFA is demanding a double-digit base pay increase, retroactive pay to the amendable date, pay for time at work on the ground, more schedule flexibility and other contract upgrades.
"The United management team gives themselves massive compensation increases while flight attendants struggle to pay basic bills," said Ken Diaz, president of the United AFA chapter. "The 99.99% yes vote is a clear reminder that we are unified in the fight against corporate greed and ready to fight for our fair share of the profits we create."