LOS ANGELES, California – Flight attendants across Southern California and other parts of the country joined in a Worldwide Flight Attendant Day of Action, staging demonstrations at various airports to push for improved pay and working conditions. The protest, which took place at Los Angeles International Airport, John Wayne Airport, and Ontario International Airport, saw no disruptions to flights.
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants emphasized that the demonstrations were a stand against what they described as “corporate greed,” and a fight for respect, value, and better job conditions. The unions, representing over 100,000 flight attendants from major airlines such as American, Alaska, Frontier, Southwest, and United, are advocating for retirement benefits, more flexible schedules, and compensation for all working hours, including time spent waiting in airports or boarding planes.
According to the flight attendants’ unions, it is essential for their role in the labor movement to be recognized with fair wages and benefits that support themselves and their families. The demonstration began at 11 a.m. at LAX, with flight attendants also picketing at several other airports across the United States and abroad, including cities like Dallas, Seattle, Las Vegas, New York, San Diego, Portland, as well as in the U.K. and Guam.
An airline spokesperson for United mentioned that the company is looking forward to working with the AFA to address the issues and move towards an industry-leading agreement for their flight attendants. The spokesperson also noted that the federal mediator has scheduled negotiations for the near future. The flight attendants’ call for action is reflective of the broader labor movement advocating for fair treatment and compensation in the workplace.