Here’s a puzzle that is worth looking into: why is Sara Nelson, known as world’s “most powerful” flight attendant, heaping praise on American Airlines CEO Robert Isom? Is United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby part of this “love triangle” of flattery?
Why Is Sara Nelson Lavishing Robert Isom With Praise?
Sara Nelson, President of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), oversees the largest flight attendant union in the world. But why would Nelson praise Isom when American Airlines mainline flight attendants are represented by the rival Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) union? The answer is that the AFA represents flight attendants at PSA, a wholly-owned regional subsidiary of AA.
PSA flight attendants just secured a tentative agreement that will see their wages rise by up to 50%. Addressing the new contract, Nelson went out of her way to praise Isom:
“PSA Flight Attendants need these improvements and we fought hard to get them in their hands for a ratification vote. Although it was extremely difficult bargaining with PSA, American CEO Robert Isom demonstrated his longstanding commitment to recognize the work of frontline employees who make it possible for American to fly. We appreciate his direct engagement to make this agreement possible. That stands in stark contrast to other carriers who are succeeding on the backs of their underpaid workers. It is also extremely notable that American agreed to a shorter term contract that ensures workers can continue to bargain for their fair share of the profits they help create.”
One Mile At A Time thinks the target of this praise is not Isom, but Kirby. Nelson, who is still a United Airlines flight attendant (not that she has much duty time these days), has failed to push through a deal for United flight attendants, who remain stuck with 2019 wages. She has called United greedy, even though her union took a deal to flight attendants that it boasted “has the highest compensation and the largest overall economic improvement in the history of our careers. Together, we secured the highest retro payment of all crew contracts, boarding pay, the best economic and quality of life provisions for Flight Attendants on reserve, scheduling improvements for all Flight Attendants without any mention of PBS, significant improvements for our hotels, preserved healthcare, improved retirement, and many other improvements.”
Even so, flight attendants resoundingly rejected the deal, sending the union back to the drawing board.
Talks have stalemated and with the Trump administration now overseeing the National Mediation Board (NMB), any hopes of strike authorization have likely been dashed.
When Nelson says, “We appreciate his direct engagement to make this agreement possible. That stands in stark contrast to other carriers who are succeeding on the backs of their underpaid workers,” it is indeed clear that she is referring, without naming him, to Scott Kirby.
While Kirby has repeatedly said that he wants United flight attendants to enjoy industry-leading wages, he has not take a direct role in negotiations with the AFA for a contract (at least by public accounts). Is United “succeeding” on the backs of underpaid workers?
I think that’s a stretch because any deal will include backpay and therefore its strikes me as a “six of one, half a dozen of the other” situation. One way or another, United will pay up. Nelson’s team tried to sell flight attendants on deal it negotiated last year and the flight attendants refused…is that United’s fault or the fault of the union?
That may be one driving force behind these comments, but I can’t help but question the timing of this. Recall a couple of days ago I wrote about a pair of Yale professors who wrote a suspiciously flattering article for Fortune in praise of Isom. Concerning the union troubles at AA, they wrote:
“We’ve heard grumblings from some that the “no confidence” vote from the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), as well as grumbling from the Allied Pilots Association, reflects inter-union political dynamics. In one case, a rival faction competing for representation rights through posturing and pandering — more than genuine employee dissatisfaction with Isom, who is anecdotally beloved by his employees. Contract ratification votes tell the real story: 87% approval from flight attendants, over 90% from mechanics. His “No Jerks” leadership philosophy is not corporate branding — it is a lived culture that his workforce recognizes even when their union leaders find it expedient to claim otherwise.”
> Read More: Yale Professor’s Defense Of American Airlines CEO Robert Isom Collapses Under Scrutiny
Is this what they were talking about? Is this praise from Nelson a validation of the contention that the alleged disgust for Isom is just a petty battle between the APFA and the AFA-CWA?
The Reason Labor Tolerates Isom
I think the AFA wants Isom to remain at the helm of AA because they view him as a “useful idiot.” To be clear, I don’t think Isom is an idiot and have some sympathy for the difficult hand he was dealt.
Even so, it seems he took part in the negotiations and agreed to what the AFA wanted, which is objectively an extremely generous contract for PSA flight attendants with a short time horizon for contract re-negotiation (three years). Furthermore, Isom has really asked nothing of his flight attendants and other frontline workers in terms of working harder to win customer loyalty. As far we we know, there are no service standard improvements that accompanied these huge pay raises for PSA flight attendants and there was no change in serve standards for mainline flight attendants when they got their
Ultimately, even without any meaningful profit sharing, I think Nelson sees Isom as the best leader labor can hope for. Say AA booted Isom and brought in a tough-minded visionary who wanted to pay flight attendants well, but also require more from them. I think there would be revolt…I think the flight attendants appreciate that at least with Isom they won’t be held accountable for griping about their product or failing to perform a second beverage service on a longer domestic flight.
CONCLUSION
Sara Nelson oddly heaped praise on Robert Isom in a celebration over a new tentative contract for PSA flight attendants. While her intentions doubtlessly included a subtle dig at Scott Kirby, I also think they represent a pragmatic view at her union that Isom is the best leader labor can hope for. That may not help AA’s bottom line or stock price, but at least there is a sense that there will be no negative surprises with him.
An unexpectedly pleasant surprise for Robert Isom amid union tensions.
the enemy of my enemy is my friend. For the moment…Not exactly a love triangle
If true, a 50% increase of nearly anything is impressive.