- US inflation fight will take 'further time': senior Fed official
- UK report finds cover-up of decades-long infected blood scandal
- Trump trial resumes, closing arguments expected next week
- Ruto on first state visit by Kenyan leader to US in two decades
- African players in Europe: Superb Kudus goal in vain as City take title
- Pope to visit Belgium, Luxembourg in September
- Gold hits high as Iran shock triggers haven support
- Strikes pound Gaza as Israel voices 'duty' to expand Rafah incursion
- Russia tries playwright and director on terror charges
- Iran mourns president Raisi's death in helicopter crash
- Attack on tourists rocks fledgling Afghanistan tourism sector
- Paralympics should put disability back on global agenda, says IPC chief
- South Africa's top court strikes Zuma from ballot
- Crunch time looms for BHP's bid buy Anglo American
- Kane to face old club Spurs for first time in Seoul
- Markets rise as traders cheered by China property plan
- Black farmers in Brazil changing views on coffee production
- Iran's President Raisi declared dead in helicopter crash
- Australia police arrest 554 in domestic violence crackdown
- South Korea, Britain host AI summit with safety top of agenda
- New president Lai vows to defend Taiwan's democracy
- Forever fad: Rubik says his cube 'reminds us why we have hands'
- Trump eyes witness stand as trial draws to a close
- Ryanair annual profit jumps on higher demand, fares
- High-priced Cummins, Starc face off as IPL enters playoffs
- Iran media says President Raisi died in helicopter crash
- Dominican Republic President Abinader re-elected to 2nd term
- New Taiwan president Lai hails 'glorious' democracy
- New Caledonia separatists defy French efforts to unblock roads
- Timberwolves knock out defending champion Nuggets, Pacers oust Knicks
- Trump biopic hits Cannes Film Festival
- Iran President Raisi's helicopter found, 'no sign of life'
- Three talking points ahead of 2024 French Open
- 'Haikyu!!': Comic heroes fuel Japan Olympic volleyball manga mania
- Timberwolves rally to knock defending champion Nuggets out of NBA playoffs
- London court set to rule on Julian Assange extradition
- Business and Bollywood votes in India election
- Pope calls anti-migrant attitudes at US border 'madness'
- Mexico aims to be big economic winner from US-China tensions
- Uncertain future for thousands after deadly Brazil floods
- Schauffele makes the putt of his life for first major win
- Wirtz returns to help unbeaten Leverkusen chase history
- Search for Iran's President Raisi after helicopter goes missing
- DeChambeau's powerful putting has him excited for US Open
- Taiwan to swear in new president as China pressure grows
- Atalanta can end 61-year wait for trophy in Europa League final
- Schauffele birdies final hole to capture PGA for first major win
- Guardiola casts doubt over long-term Man City future
- Hollywood icons Costner and Demi Moore make Cannes comeback
- Pacers shoot down Knicks to reach NBA Eastern Conference finals
RBGPF | -3.59% | 57.63 | $ | |
CMSC | -0.15% | 24.474 | $ | |
SCS | 0.29% | 13.67 | $ | |
NGG | 0.56% | 73.24 | $ | |
GSK | 0.02% | 44.99 | $ | |
RELX | -0.16% | 44 | $ | |
RYCEF | 0.15% | 5.298 | $ | |
BCC | -0.91% | 136.05 | $ | |
VOD | 0.1% | 9.8 | $ | |
BCE | -0.18% | 34.28 | $ | |
AZN | -0.27% | 76.691 | $ | |
JRI | 0.19% | 11.602 | $ | |
CMSD | -0.54% | 24.17 | $ | |
BTI | -0.32% | 31.49 | $ | |
BP | 0.01% | 37.495 | $ | |
RIO | -0.56% | 73.2 | $ |
American Airlines union seeks Biden support in contract fight
Dozens of American Airlines flight attendants demonstrated Thursday in front of the White House as they seek to be allowed to strike during protracted contract negotiations.
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants organized the Washington rally along with parallel events at about a dozen US airports.
"Flight Attendants are the only employees at American Airlines who have not had a raise in the past five years," said the APFA, which represents more than 27,000 workers at the big US carrier.
"We've reached an impasse with American Airlines in our negotiations, and we're coming here to talk to President Biden, to show President Biden that we need to be released to strike," said Erik Harris, an American Airlines flight attendant based in Philadelphia.
Biden "can show us that he's a union president by telling the National Mediation Board (NMB) to release us to strike," Harris said.
An American Airlines spokesman said the company's latest offer includes an immediate 25 percent increase in flight attendant pay.
"We're ready to get a deal done quickly and are back at the negotiating table next week to do that," the spokesman said.
The two sides have been in negotiations under a mediation process with the NMB for six months to reach a new contract.
Under the US Railway Labor Act, unions can only undertake a strike following a 30-day cooling-off period if they are released by the NMB.
The law, first enacted in 1926, aims to avoid an interruption of interstate commerce by providing a process for mediation.
In August more than 99 percent of APFA members who voted authorized a strike.
On Thursday, the APFA called on Biden and other elected officials "to respect and help restore airline Unionized labor's right to strike," the group said in a statement.
"There's such a disparity between the top executives as well as our newest flight attendants," said Diane Britton, a flight attendant with the carrier. "We have new flight attendants living out of their cars that have to work two or three jobs."
The United States, like other countries, has seen a wave of action by organized labor in recent months.
Biden has relentlessly courted unions as he competes with Republican opponent Donald Trump for working-class voters' support and even appeared on a picket line last year during a strike against the big three US car giants.
K.Brown--BTB