U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), along with other members of the Senate, has called on PSA Airlines, Inc. to continue negotiations and reach a contract agreement with more than 1,700 flight attendants who have been bargaining for a new contract for over two years.
In a letter led by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), the senators expressed concern about the ongoing negotiations. “We write to express our concern regarding the prolonged contract negotiations impacting 1,700 flight attendants at PSA Airlines and urge you to negotiate a fair contract,” wrote the senators. “It is disappointing to see that there has been little progress in finding an agreement after the flight attendants’ collective bargaining agreement became amendable over two years ago. We encourage you to urgently reach an agreement that acknowledges the vital contributions of these workers to the American Airlines network and the broader public.”
The letter also addressed challenges faced by PSA flight attendants during this period. “PSA flight attendants have worked through operational dysfunctions, faced horrific tragedy, managed a surge of conflict and aggression by passengers, and carried the airline through all the good and bad times in between. They deserve your support, gratitude, and a fair return for their work, especially in light of their commitment in the wake of such a tragedy that occurred earlier this year. That is why we urge you to personally engage in negotiations and help find an agreement in a timely manner.”
PSA Airlines operates as a subsidiary of American Airlines with its headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina. The airline maintains crew bases in Dayton (Ohio), Washington D.C., Charlotte (North Carolina), Dallas (Texas), and Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). Maintenance facilities are located across several airports including Akron-Canton Airport, Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, McGhee Tyson Airport, Norfolk International Airport, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, Pensacola International Airport, and Dayton International Airport.
The letter was signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai'i), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) as well as Cantwell and Kaine.
The senators referenced expectations under federal labor law: “Under the Railway Labor Act, carriers and their employees are expected to make a reasonable effort to create and maintain collective bargaining agreements. Instead, the PSA flight attendants have been struggling to make ends meet under a current contract that is out of date, which includes pay and benefits well below the industry standard. Regional flight attendants perform more passenger boardings, but they work without boarding pay, which is also becoming a standard in the industry.”
The letter concludes with lawmakers stating they will monitor developments closely: “We will be closely following the progress at the bargaining table and will be eager to see a fair agreement reached as soon as possible. We look forward to your response.”
