(Reuters) – A union representing American Airlines Group flight attendants (NASDAQ: ) said on Thursday that the latest round of talks with the carrier did not lead to an agreement this week.
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), which represents about 28,000 flight attendants at American Airlines, said it came close to striking because the airline had not offered a suitable agreement.
However, airline flight attendants cannot leave work until the National Mediation Board (NMB) gives them permission.
The board will first have to decide that both parties have reached an impasse and that further negotiations will not be fruitful. This long and complicated process makes it difficult for airline workers to strike.
Last year, NMB rejected a request from the union to be released from federal mediation.
American Airlines said in an emailed statement to Reuters on Thursday that it will continue to negotiate with the union so that its flight attendants benefit from the contract.
“This agreement is in place and we look forward to scheduling additional dates,” the airline spokesperson said.
The current round of negotiations began in January 2020, but were temporarily halted at the height of the pandemic. Talks resumed in June 2021.
Earlier this month, the airline offered its flight attendants an immediate 17% pay rise in their new contract, which was later unanimously rejected by the APFA.
