SAN DIEGO — United Airlines flight attendants hit the picket lines on Thursday at the San Diego International Airport.
To clarify, this is not a strike —they are calling it an informational picket line. The flight attendants said they want to inform the public of what's been happening by bringing attention to ongoing issues and putting pressure on the United Airlines management.
They said want United Airlines executives to negotiate fairly. These demonstrations come after United Airlines announced their Q3 profits.
The United Association of Flight Attendants said United has made almost $15 billion in revenue. At the same time, United Airlines executives also announced 110 new plane orders, gate designs, routes, and lounges.
Flight attendants said they have been on the frontlines generating most of those profits but haven't been paid fairly for their work.
This is why, thousands of flight attendants across the nation are taking this fight to the streets and demanding that management finally negotiate a contract that gives flight attendants a share of their hefty profits.
CBS 8 spoke to the Vice President of the United Association of Flight Attendants, Timothy Trueman. He said that both parties haven't been able to reach an agreement since 2021.
“By picketing today and informing the public that flight attendants at United Airlines have been working without a contract for two years now," Trueman said. "We’re trying to get the company to give back to the table get the negotiations done and let’s get a ratified agreement to the property.”
CBS 8 has reached out to United Airlines for comment. In a recent statement, a spokesperson said, “We are seeing good progress in our negotiations with the association of flight attendants and closed out six sections of our contract with them on Wednesday. We are hopeful that this progress will provide momentum toward our goal of reaching an industry-leading agreement.”
In addition, the spokesperson for United Airlines said that flights will operate as planned while flight attendants hit the picket lines.
