Day: June 5, 2024

American Airlines announced Wednesday it’s offering flight attendants an immediate wage hike of 17% along with a new profit-sharing formula as negotiations for new labor contracts continue.

CEO Robert Isom said in a message to the company’s flight attendants that while progress has been made in contract negotiations, there is “still a good deal of work to be done.”

The current negotiations began in January 2020 but were paused during the height of the pandemic before talks resumed in June 2021. 

“We are committed to reaching a new agreement, and now is the time to make a deal,” Isom added.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES, FLIGHT ATTENDANTS’ UNION REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT

Over 23,000 American Airlines flight attendants are represented by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA). The union has asked workers to prepare for a strike after negotiations last month failed to yield an agreement.

American’s flight attendants say they haven’t had a pay raise in over five years and have asked for an immediate raise of about 33%. Union officials say flight attendants have endured a lot since the pandemic, notably unruly passengers resisting the controversial mask mandate on planes. 

American Airlines and the union are expected to resume negotiations next week. APFA has requested that it be released from federally-mediated negotiations, arguing that American’s offers “continue to fall far short of addressing the current economic environment.”

“It is way past time for management to acknowledge our contributions to the airline, address the new industry standard and compensate us fairly,” said Julie Hedrick, head of American’s flight attendants union. “We are neither backing down nor settling for less than we’ve earned.”

THOUSANDS OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS TO HOLD NATIONWIDE PICKETS AMID CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

Flight attendants at several other airlines, including United Airlines, Alaska and Frontier, are also negotiating new labor contracts.

Southwest Airlines flight attendants in April ratified a new labor contract that was negotiated by the Transportation Workers Union of America. It included an average pay increase of 22.3%, with 3% raises in 2025, 2026 and 2027. The sides reached a tentative agreement in late March.

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It also revised the company’s reserve system by bringing an end to the airline’s 24-hour on-call system to give flight attendants more rest. 

Further, the Southwest contract included additional compensation for extra time spent on the ground while on duty, higher pay for irregular operations, plus premium pay for an extended duty day.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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A pizza shop in Ohio was saved by a local business owner after a prankster apparently placed a large food order and never picked it up.

PizzAroma in Maumee was reportedly the target after a woman submitted the order for 16 large pies – eight cheese and eight pepperoni – to be picked up the following day.

Rocky Keefer, manager of PizzAroma, told Fox Television Stations his shop sometimes caters events, so he and his staff thought there was nothing unusual about the order.

5 DELICIOUS FOOD PRANKS THAT PROVED A HUNGRY PUBLIC CRAVES EVERY MORSEL OF NEWS

Keefer said that the following day, the woman called back to ask when the pizzas would be ready. Keefer said he told her that they were being placed in the oven.

The 16 pizzas, which totaled $112, were expected to be paid for upon pickup.

But as time passed and no one arrived to pick up the order, the pies became old, and the shop had to toss them. The prank had delayed other customers’ orders as well, Fox Television Stations reported.

PizzAroma reportedly traced the woman’s phone number back to an app that allows people to make prank calls using a fake number. 

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“I can’t believe this happened because we took time out to make sure it was done. I just don’t understand why people can do that to somebody,” Keefer told Fox Television Stations.

In a turn of events, a local business owner heard about the prank through social media and footed the bill.

Travis Truesdell, a U.S. Army veteran and owner of True Aerial Signs in Toledo, not only compensated the pizzeria but purchased additional pizza pies to share with his own employees.

“It just automatically resonated with me. I understand how hard it is sometimes to make ends meet,” Truesdell told Fox Television Stations.

“Doing the right thing is so easy, and it really makes a difference to other people,” he said.

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PizzAroma staff said after the experience they have changed their policy, and customers who order 10 or more pizzas will have to pay upfront – either over the phone or in person.

Keefer said he hopes humanity was restored by Truesdell’s kindness.

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“It’s nice that we have other small businesses looking out for us. Small businesses looking out for each other and have each other’s backs. It makes me proud,” Keefer said. 

Fox News Digital reached out to PizzAroma and True Aerial Signs for comment.

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