Off-duty United Airlines flight attendants protested at over a dozen airports Tuesday to protest ongoing operational disruptions.
United Airlines has been working hard to combat those issues, according to a statement by the airline.
The day of action, called the Day of Action, took place at 14 airports in the U.S., Guam, and London, demanding that the carrier fixes ongoing operational disruptions that they say have tangibly impacted them and their passengers.
Many of them held signs that read, Can you hear us now and solutions that are not excuses. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA AFA-CWA, the union representing the picketing flight attendants, claims that United's management has failed in part to properly staff crew schedules, resulting in tens of thousands of delays and cancellations, and that it is not taking full responsibility.
AFA-CWA said that flight attendants are on the frontlines when an operational meltdown occurs, and they are expected to address passenger concerns. Flight attendants have been left empty-handed or stranded without the support of the management who are running the airline. The union continued: United Management keeps expecting flight attendants to make it work. The management blames others — air traffic control, flight attendants, pilots, and themselves for operational issues. The cancellations last week tied to failed mandatory inspections for some of United's Boeing 777-200 planes were cited by the group.
United Airlines canceled about 18 flights when it realized that some of the planes had not undergone required inspection of the front edges of the wings, although it worked to rebook passengers.
More hiring and add digital options for some items have been made by United Airlines, and they have worked hard to reduce wait times for flight attendants to talk to a crew scheduler. In the company's most recent earnings call, United Airlines President Brett Hart said the carrier continues to collaborate with the U.S. Department of Transportation on the operational disruptions and challenges that affect the aviation industry and customers. Hart told analysts that it hopes to be able to address the main drivers of these challenges and find solutions together with an active partnership with the government and Federal Aviation Administration. He said that the airline has seen early signs of progress and even received a waiver to reduce its schedule in Newark to make the remaining flights more reliable.