Flight attendants at Frontier Airlines have chosen to strike after the airline refused to negotiate with the union regarding its change in business model, which has severely and negatively impacted its flight attendants. This puts pressure on airline management to begin talks regarding the change in earnest.

Almost everyone

Earlier this week, flight attendants employed by Frontier Airlines
, a major ultra-low-cost carrier, voted to authorize a Strike
. The airline has a legal obligation to bargain with the union regarding the impact of the change in business impact, which is separate from their obligation to mediate regarding contract negotiations. However, the airline has refused to engage in talks, even through the National Mediate Board.

Frontier Airbus A320 flying

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Amazingly, 99.6% of the flight attendants represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA
voted to authorize a strike versus the 0.4% who disagreed. 92.7% of the flight attendants participated in the vote. It shows employees’ unhappiness with their current business model.

According to the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, the support is in response to the airline offering insulting terms during contract negotiations. Jennifer Sala, AFA Frontier President, spoke about the vote:

“Frontier Flight Attendants are struggling to earn a living because of management’s new ‘out-and-back’ model. The impact of this change has turned our lives and our paychecks upside down. The harm is real and happening right now. We’re ready to do whatever it takes to bring management to the table.”

Last week, Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle boasted that the change in business model has allowed the airline to save costs significantly. However, flight attendants pay for these savings.

Sara Nelson, International President of AFA-CWA, stated:

“Frontier management is putting their ‘cost savings’ plan on Flight Attendants’ backs. It’s a gross example of corporate greed that devalues the contributions of these Flight Attendants to the airline and creates incredible instability for the people who make Frontier fly. Frontier must negotiate to reflect the impact of their completely new business model.”

Simple Flying has contacted Frontier Airlines for a statement about the airline’s disinterest in negotiating with its flight attendants.

CHAOS awaits

The AFA’s strike action follows the trademarked CHAOS (Create Havoc Around Our System) strategy. According to the AFA, the system is a strategy of intermittent strikes designed to maximize the impact of industrial action while minimizing the risk for flight attendants taking part in the strikes.

Frontier Airlines Airbus A320neo taking off

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

CHAOS is a fluid strategy that changes based on the airline. For some, it might be an all-out strike for a day or two, while for others, it might be a series of intermittent strikes. It is designed to disrupt operations and profits and keep airline executives off-balance.

Only the union and flight attendants will know when the strike is happening. A strike could disrupt any or all of the airline’s flights, resulting in the airline delaying and canceling flights while rebooking and even offering compensation to passengers affected by the strike, resulting in further losses. The idea is to hit the airline when it hurts the most: its bottom line.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *