The group representing flight attendants with Fort Worth-based American Airlines has filed a request with the National Mediation Board for federal mediation.
"The goal is to move our contract negotiations forward, and to help reach an agreement that recognizes the contributions and the sacrifices of the flight attendants at American Airlines," said Paul Hartshorn, Jr., National Communications Chair for the Association of Professional Flight Attendants.
He says the two sides have reached agreement on a number of issues, but two core items have proven to be sticking points.
"Economics are always the last part of the contract negotiations. Another part where we're having substantive disagreements are in scheduling flexibility, which is probably one of the most important things for flight attendants," Hartshorn said. "They're away from home a lot, and having the flexibility to move and trade things around is a definite sticking point. It really affects the work-life balance."
Getting a federal mediator assigned to the case and scheduling those formal talks could take several months. Representatives for the APFA say they will continue discussions with American Airlines in the meantime.
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