American Airlines reaches contract deal with nearly 15,000 passenger service agents

Fort Worth-based American Airlines has reached an agreement with its passenger service agents, leaving only flight attendants as the carrier’s remaining employee group bargaining for a contract.

American’s passenger service agents – a workforce of nearly 15,000 represented by CWA-IBT Passenger Service Employee Association – work in airport customer service, premium guest services and reservations. More details about the contract will be released soon to members, according to the union. The union’s membership will need to vote to ratify.

“We could not have reached this agreement without the support of our local union leaders, mobilization team members and every member who supported the organizing and mobilization efforts over the past several months,” said a statement from the union’s bargaining committee. “Your participation in mobilization activities made a huge difference at the bargaining table and demonstrated the power of our unity.”

In a late November bargaining update, the union said the most important issues on the table were wages and protections.

“We are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with the CWA-IBT and appreciate the union’s commitment to negotiating a contract our team has earned,” said Lindsey Martin, spokeswoman for American Airlines.

However, still left at the bargaining table are American’s flight attendants, represented by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants. Last month, federal mediators rejected the union’s request to be released from mediation, a step toward a potential strike at the airline. Instead, the union and the company will continue to bargain.

In August, American’s pilots, represented by the Allied Pilots Association, voted in a new contract with raises of more than 41% over four years.