Shocking scenes unfolded at a special United Airlines media event in Brooklyn on Tuesday after flight attendants demanding big pay raises stormed the stage just moments before chief executive Scott Kirby was due to unveil highly anticipated new Polaris business class seats.
Dressed in full uniform and waving bright yellow placards emblazoned with the words “CONTRACT NOW,” the flight attendants threatened to shut the airline down if their demands for a new contract were not met
Flight attendants at the Chicago-based carrier have been in negotiations since 2021 after their last contract became amendable, and until an agreement can be reached, their wages will remain stagnant even as the cost of living rises sharply.
The small group of flight attendants involved in the noisy protest were quickly ushered away by security, who allegedly accused them of trespass. It remains unclear how the crew members gained access to the strictly invite-only event, which was attended by some of United’s most important customers.
Chief executive Scott Kirby went on with the show, but shortly after his presentation, Sara Nelson, the national president of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA), didn’t mince her words when she criticized the state of play at the airline.
“Scott Kirby has no business demanding concessions while stuffing his own pockets with gold and beating his chest about United being the best,” Nelson slammed.
According to Nelson, United has awarded Kirby with a 246% increase in compensation in just the last two years, while flight attendants have gone without a pay raise for more than four years.
This week, negotiators from United and the union are meeting in Chicago to discuss economic proposals from both sides – part of three weeks of intensive bargaining in a concerted effort to reach a tentative agreement.
A spokesperson for the AFA-CWA confirmed that the protest was an official union activity.
If only they were this passionate about providing consistent, quality service, better pay would make sense!
How embarrassing. Pay your people United.
Need better representation
Sounds like grounds for dismissal. If a job doesn’t pay what you feel it should, don’t take it. Unions are for chumps and criminals.
Gee, why didn’t Nelson sign a contract back in 2021 when theirs became amendable?
In the depth of Covid when UA was trying to get rid of as many people as possible, I’m sure they would have offered her everything she wants.