American Airlines Pilots Vote to Strike

American Airline pilots have officially voted to authorize a potential strike.

Over 99% of members of the Allied Pilots Association (APA), which represents 15,000 American Airline Pilots, voted to authorize a strike as the union continues to negotiate a new contract with American.  

While there is now a potential that American could strike, a full pilot strike would require permission from the federal National Mediation Board and are increasingly rare in the U.S. American has also said that negotiations between the two aren’t far off—a spokesperson for the carrier told the Association Press on May 1, 2023, that the carrier respects the vote and believes the two can reach a deal quickly.

Still, in a statement, Capt. Ed Sicher, APA President, said that the group which picketed at all 10 of the airline’s major hubs on May 1, 2023, will strike “if necessary.”

American pilots are reportedly seeking a similar deal that Delta Air Lines pilots won earlier this year, a new contract that included 34% raises over a four-year period. According to an APA statement, it is also seeking “win-win scheduling and work rule improvements.”