8/28/2024 United AFA Day of Action: ORD on CBS News Chicago

Andrew Ramos reports that as many as 28,000 workers could end up on the picket line well today United flight attendants gave a very overwhelming thumbs up to authorize a strike where 99.9% of his Workforce voted yes it's the first time in nearly 20 years that United flight attendants voted for a strike authorization it's a move the workers union the association of flight attendants says was fueled by inaction by the Chicago based carrier to negotiate in good faith where they've been working with an amended contract since 2021 contract flight attendants have been asking for a double- digigit base pay increase as well as pay upgrades for schedule flexibility on ground duties and retroactive pay many flight attendants say the current wage is not enough especially as the cost of living continues to rise in major cities like Chicago and San Francisco in a statement to CBS News Chicago a spokesperson for United says both sides have been actively engaged in these negotiations facilitated by the federal mediator saying they remain eager to reach an agreement but the union says it's taking too long and they need to act now the cost of living is the biggest thing we need to get those flight attendants to a living wage the company has the money they're showing it they're giving out uh double digits increases to our Executives our Pilots have just negotiated a contract and it's high time for the flight attendant to do the same they're trying to move people at the bargaining table and one of the ways perhaps the best way that the union can do that is they can say uh to the airlines uh all of our members are behind this they're not divided as of right now there is no timeline for this strike the strike authorization according to the union simply puts United leadership on notice to come back to the table to negotiate a fair contract for both sides reporting from O'Hare Andrew Ramos CBS News Chicago