American Airlines flight attendants have formally requested federal officials to grant them the right to strike, potentially disrupting travel during the busy Christmas and New Year's season. However, American Airlines has firmly stated that there is "no possibility" of a walkout over the holidays.

The flight attendants, represented by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, voiced their frustration with the lack of progress in contract negotiations. These employees have not received raises since 2019. The union leaders submitted a petition to the National Mediation Board on Monday, urging the declaration of negotiations as deadlocked and seeking permission for a strike after a 30-day "cooling-off period".

Meanwhile, pilots at Southwest Airlines have opened a "strike center" in Dallas, indicating their readiness to request permission to strike if a contract agreement with the airline is not reached in the coming days. A countdown clock displayed in the pilots' union headquarters counts down to a potential strike on December 29.

However, it is important to note that striking for airline workers is challenging under federal law, as it requires federal mediators to declare negotiations as an impasse and grant permission for "self-help" actions such as strikes. Even if declared, a strike can still be blocked by the president or Congress if it is deemed harmful to the economy.

The last strike by a U.S. airline union occurred in 2010 when pilots at Spirit Airlines walked off the job.

American Airlines refuted the flight attendants' claim of stalled negotiations, stating that the airline has been offering an "industry-leading economic proposal" for months. The airline emphasized its willingness to continue working with the union and the National Mediation Board to reach an agreement. Moreover, American Airlines confirmed that there is "no possibility" of a strike during the Thanksgiving or December holidays.

The flight attendants' union is demanding an immediate 35% raise, followed by annual increases of 6% over a three-year period. In contrast, American Airlines is offering an upfront raise of 11%, inclusive of higher pay during boarding, and subsequent annual increases of 2%. The union is also advocating for larger 401(k) contributions and increased rest time.

American Airlines pilots recently secured raises of over 40% spanning four years, leading flight attendant union treasurer Erik Harris to question the disparity between the two groups. Harris stated, "We definitely don't feel any equality here. How come the pilots have gotten their deal and we haven't?"

Southwest Airlines pilots are expected to receive similar raises to their counterparts at American Airlines due to pattern bargaining. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association has requested slightly higher pay than Boeing 737 pilots at other airlines, arguing for the longer daily utilization of planes and pilots at Southwest.

One of the major obstacles in the Southwest negotiations revolves around pilot scheduling. The union is seeking premium pay for operating flights that lack a crew instead of staffing those flights with reserve pilots. Earlier this year, the Southwest pilots' union attempted but failed to secure permission to strike. A bargaining session is scheduled for late November, but none have been scheduled thereafter.

Both the flight attendants at American Airlines and the pilots at Southwest Airlines find inspiration in the successes of other labor unions this year. They point to the United Auto Workers securing favorable contracts after a six-week strike, as well as improved compensation and concessions won by screenwriters, actors, and Teamsters through strikes and threats of strikes.

On Thursday, dozens of American Airlines flight attendants picketed outside the company's headquarters in Texas, displaying signs that read, "Ready to strike." Their show of solidarity drew support from passing motorists who honked in encouragement.

The union official, Harris, expressed both hope for their cause and motivation derived from global labor movements. He stated, "This gives me hope, but also seeing what's happening out there in labor worldwide is giving us all hope."