The labor union representing American Airlines flight attendants has rejected the company’s proposal for an immediate 17 percent pay raise.
CEO Robert Isom extended the offer as contract negotiations continued without a resolution, increasing the likelihood of a strike.
American Airlines and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) have been in contentious negotiations over key issues, primarily pay.
Flight attendants have not received contract raises since before the pandemic.
In a video message to flight attendants, Isom acknowledged progress in several areas but emphasized the need for further negotiations.
He said: “We have made progress in a number of key areas, but there is still a good deal of work to be done.”
The union announced that both parties are scheduled to meet with federal mediators next week in a “last-ditch” effort to finalize a deal.
Flight attendants have been instructed to prepare for a possible strike.
Strikes among airline employees are rare, with the last one occurring in 2010 among Spirit Airlines pilots.
“We have made progress in a number of key areas, but there is still a good deal of work to be done”
Federal mediators could trigger a release process if negotiations fail, potentially leading to a strike within several weeks.
Isom said: “So, to get you more money now, we presented APFA with a proposal that offers immediate wage increases of 17 percent and a new formula that would increase your profit sharing.
“This means we’ve offered increased pay for all flight attendants and are not asking your union for anything in return.
“This is unusual, but these are unusual times.”
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Julie Hedrick, APFA’s national president, criticized the proposal for lacking long-term stability.
“This is not that,” she said, urging the airline to focus on crafting a comprehensive, longer-term agreement.
On the same day, the union opened a “strike command center” with dedicated phone lines and resources to assist cabin crew members.
While US airline pilots secured new labor deals last year, flight attendants at American, United Airlines, and Alaska Airlines are still in negotiations.
Last month, over 160 bipartisan House representatives wrote to the National Mediation Board, urging it to facilitate agreements between airlines and flight attendants.
