American Airlines flight attendants plan 'simulated' strike

American Airline flight attendants based at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and elsewhere are planning to stage so-called simulated strikes on Wednesday to put more pressure on management as contract negotiations continue.

About 50 members of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants here are expected to participate by handing out leaflets and holding picket signs at O'Hare. Those serving on certain flights that day are set to wear red badges that say "Got Guts," signifying that their flight would not be operating had this been a real strike. Those flight attendants are expected to be serving up to 10 flights on Wednesday, union spokesman David Roscow said today.

"We know what's happening in the real world now, but we want management to put up a serious proposal," said Roscow.

The flight attendants are seeking better pay and benefits, but Roscow declined to provide specifics.

American Airlines officials will resume mediated discussions with the union in December and have an additional 10 days scheduled for January. Both sides have made steady progress and have successfully reached tentative agreements on more than 72 percent of the total contract articles, said American Airlines spokeswoman Missy Latham.

"Historically, negotiations which are settled during mediation in the airline industry last an average of 19 months after the mediator comes on board, and we've been in mediated negotiations for roughly nine months," said Latham. "It appears the APFA is using this announcement in an attempt to increase their leverage at the negotiating table. While our Flight Attendants already receive near industry leading pay and benefits, we are committed to working with APFA to reach a contract that recognizes flight attendants' service and dedication while positioning our company for long-term success by improving productivity."

Besides O'Hare, American Airlines flight attendants will participate in the simulated strike in Dallas, San Diego, Miami, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Raleight-Durham, San Francisco, St. Louis, Boston, West Palm Beach, Newark and New York.

The union represents more than 18,000 flight attendants.