An American Eagle and American Airlines plane sits on the tarmac at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on July 2, 2022.
Nearly all of the pilots who participated in the union's strike vote announced that they approved a walkout before getting ready for the busy summer travel season.
About 15,000 pilots for American Airlines are represented by the Allied Pilots Association (APA). According to The Epoch Times, the APA declared on Monday, May 1, that its members had voted "overwhelmingly" to authorize a strike.
Demands for Better Salary and Working Conditions
"The APA membership has spoken," Capt. Ed Sicher, president of the APA, said in a statement. He added that if a contract that would put American Airlines' pilots in a strong position to succeed is not reached via negotiations, the APA will resort to a strike.
Over 96% of APA members participated in the voting process, which ran from April 1 to 30.
"With more than [99%] of participating pilots voting in favor of authorizing a strike, our pilots' resolve is unmistakable. We will not be deterred from our goal of an industry-leading contract," Sicher stated.
At all 10 of the airline's major hubs, including Boston Logan International, Chicago O'Hare International, Los Angeles International, and New York's LaGuardia, the union has announced that its members will engage in "informational picketing" between the hours of 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM local time, ABC7 reported.
American Airlines is under increased pressure to meet pilots' requests for higher wages and improved working conditions after being authorized to begin a strike.
As the sides negotiate a new deal, the strike authorization seems mostly symbolic because US pilots cannot actually strike due to complex labor processes.
To Match Competitor's Latest Contract
In a statement to The Epoch Times, American Airlines said its management is "confident that an agreement... is within reach and can be finalized quickly."
For its new pilot contract, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said in March that the company was willing to match the pay rates and profit-sharing formula offered by rival Delta Air Lines.
The newly signed deal between Delta and its workers includes a 34% cumulative wage increase over four years, totaling roughly $7 billion. The agreement also includes a one-time payment, savings on health insurance, and enhanced holiday and vacation compensation.
In March, Isom remarked that an agreement similar to Delta's "would be a game changer" for American Airlines pilots. He previously said that American Airlines pilots might earn cumulative salary increases of 40% over four years to match Delta's structure.
According to industry experts, the increased rivalry for pilots has prompted other airlines to improve their compensation packages in response to Delta's contract.
Delta announced the newest agreement in its financial report for the first quarter of 2023 and anticipated record revenue in the following months.
