American Airlines flight attendants to hold mock strikes in November

American Airlines which carries about 8 percent of the passengers that travel through Orlando International Airport, has not come to a new labor contract agreement with about 18,000 flight attendants.  As a result, the union that represents the flight attendants has announced they would hold mock strikes throughout the American Airlines system this month and seek permission for real strikes beginning next year.

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants union said that on November 18 protests will be held at airports around the country to demonstrate to the media and the public how flights will be disrupted if a real strike does occur.

There are bargaining sessions scheduled for the remainder of this year and into January.  The union has said at the end of January it will request a 30-day cooling off period which is the final step prior to an official strike. 

The flight attendants continue to seek wage and benefit increases at the same time American Airlines is losing money and seeking further concessions from its employees.  American Airlines suffered two strikes in the 1990's - one by the flight attendants in 1993 and one by pilots in 1997.  Both strikes ended when then President Clinton ordered the employees back to work and the airline to re-enter negotiations.