You might notice American Airlines flight attendants wearing more union pins going forward, and that has some symbolic significance…
In this post:
American flight attendants wage “WAR” on Robert Isom
American CEO Robert Isom isn’t very popular at the moment, especially among employees. A little over a month ago, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), which represents the Fort Worth-based carrier’s 28,000 flight attendants, issued a vote of no confidence in Isom, the first time the union has ever done that.
While the union wants Isom replaced, it’s clear that’s not happening any time soon, as the Board of Directors (of which Isom is the Chairman) has refused to take action.
As the latest development in an escalating situation, the APFA has now asked its members to start wearing union pins and lanyards, as a sign of solidarity against Isom. Specifically, flight attendants are being asked to wear the “WAR” pins that they wore during their last round of contract negotiations, which wrapped up in 2024.
“WAR” stands for “We Are Ready,” and refers to flight attendants being prepared to go on strike during the prolonged contract negotiations that we saw at the time (actually going on strike is very difficult, but that’s the vibe they wanted to go with). Just to be 100% clear, there’s no strike on the horizon here, but wearing these “WAR” lanyards is supposed to be symbolic.
Here’s the memo the union published for members:
The future of American Airlines is at stake.
American’s continued poor financial and operational performance is all too familiar to those of us who have been at American Airlines or its predecessor airlines for years, and the writing is on the wall:
Flight Attendants will not accept wage and work-rule concessions to rescue failing top leadership. We have sacrificed before, and we will not be asked to do it again to cover for strategic missteps at the top. It is time to course correct and move this airline in a fundamentally different direction with bold, visionary leadership that knows how to compete, not just cut.
As we continue this effort, Solidarity and visibility matter. Flight Attendants are encouraged to wear the red APFA pin that many of us saved from negotiations as a visible sign of Unity. If you do not have your red pin, please make sure to wear any APFA lapel pin and your APFA blue lanyard every time you come to work.
Your Base President/ Vice President will have pins and blue lanyards available. You may also visit the APFA Solidarity Shop for pins, lanyards, t-shirts, and more!
Every visible show of solidarity demonstrates that Flight Attendants stand together and remain engaged as we hold leadership accountable and fight for the future of our careers at American Airlines.
Good on the union for keeping the pressure going!
Regardless of your opinion on unions, I think most people can agree that American could use a leadership change, and a fresh perspective. So I commend the union for keeping its campaign going, and applying pressure. Ultimately these pins and lanyards are subtle, so I’m curious to see how widespread their use becomes.
It reminds me of the late 2000s (what a time!), when former United CEO Glenn Tilton was incredibly unpopular with employees. In protest of him, employees (and supportive customers) wore orange “Glenn’s Gotta Go” wristbands.
There were also “Vocal Minority” wristbands, referring to Tilton’s comments that only a vocal minority of employees weren’t happy with his leadership. The use of these wristbands was widespread, and there was nothing subtle about the messaging there.
Unfortunately I suspect that Isom has just bought himself some more time at the head of the airline. Isom was promising much better results in 2026, and insisted that 2025 was just an exception (in a negative way). Of course now with war in the Middle East and high oil prices, he’ll have more of an excuse for lackluster performance.
Bottom line
American’s flight attendant union is now requesting that members wear pins and lanyards from back when a new contract was being renegotiated, and flight attendants had voted to authorized a strike. While these pins and lanyards aren’t directly relevant now, the intent is that these show solidarity against management.
The union had called on CEO Robert Isom to be replaced (as have many other groups), but that doesn’t appear to be happening.
What do you make of this APFA pin and lanyard initiative?
I think all working people including actors and actresses should keep their mouths shut when it comes to politics. If I wanted their option I would ask them. For better or worse all they do is influence others just because of who they are. Frankly I don’t give a damn what they think
NFFE Local 1031 stands in Solidarity Union Strong.
If they could just keep the lavatories clean I'd be happy.
Quit making a mess in there!
Sadly American employees across all industries are treated badly. Poor pay, little paid time off , poor workers rights and expensive health care. Feeling sad for you from Europe, embrace socialism, your life will be so improved
Thanks. We’re trying. (Some of us, at least.)
Making the beef with Isom customer facing is so misguided. 99.9% of passengers are not shareholders. Only shareholders and the AA Board ultimately can hold Isom accountable and force changes.
We the flying public vote with our choice of carrier. Front line employees bringing their grievances to us on board could only make us fly AA less not more.
Reading the comments, I understand those that are frustrated by this action. But please be kind without derogatory language. You don't like what you are receiving for service, I get it. These are difficult times and be greatfful you are in a position that is not affected.
It is wild how quickly some are to punch-down on those literally serving them… wild.
It is wild how quickly some are to punch-down on those literally paying salary to them… wild.
Bottom line we just need to be kind with our words.
Again, hard to tell real or fake Eskimo…
Either way: Tasty boots. *lick lick*
Oh big surprise - they weren’t happy waiting on their contract. Then they got it and are unhappy again. They won’t walk to the back of the plane to get a Coke Zero but they’ll walk in a circle to gripe.
Ok that's it! You obviously are good buddies with Kirby and/or have stock in United.
Unacceptable. I am not interested in their"fight". I pay enough for flights, I dont want to see this stuff from FAs. Your job is to provide service and safety.
This is so incredibly unprofessional and unacceptable. AAs employees are part of the problem.
This is unacceptable in the business world. Union grievances with management have no place inboard the aircraft. Same goes for "pins" supporting various "politically charged" causes. Im ok with pins to fight childhood cancer... - who cannot be fine with that. Most things like BLM, Gaza, MAGA, Trans rights, Ant-ICE, etc., keep it off the plane.
The only thing "we are ready" for as customers is the mass layoff of the majority of these overpaid, overweight and overaged flight attendants who believe that airline passengers exist strictly to provide jobs to these glorified waitresses.
Please tell them exactly what you said, word for word, before food and beverage service. EAT UP! Yum!
I don't fly sh*thole airlines like American or Air India.
Are you even based in the US? Psh.
(Probably one of these pretend-MAGA troll-farms in Pakistan…)
Or Russia.
1990.....if it's important for you to know, I'm an American but relocated permenently to Istanbul in 2021.
Oh, gosh, eww, just awful; was that move for the hair transplant, or for the authoritarian Erdogan regime?
LOL......my wife is Turkish. We were living in the USA and got sick of the state of affairs in most major cities. We lived in NYC for a while then tried the CT suburbs but that just wasn't for us. I'd rate Istanbul higher than any major city in America all things considered, but everyone has their own preferences.
I get it... but as has been said, taking it to the customers really doesn't serve much purpose. Those of us bothering to read this and reply here understand the reason behind the pins/lanyards/etc. whether we agree with it or not. 99% of the traveling public does not. They have no context. I remember last year in the contract negotiation phase where person next to me asked the F/A on the jumpseat across what the...
I get it... but as has been said, taking it to the customers really doesn't serve much purpose. Those of us bothering to read this and reply here understand the reason behind the pins/lanyards/etc. whether we agree with it or not. 99% of the traveling public does not. They have no context. I remember last year in the contract negotiation phase where person next to me asked the F/A on the jumpseat across what the WAR meant and the reply was "we don't like our management, they won't pay us what's fair." Then comes the announcement that the flight from CLT to FLL is too short for any service in coach, plus it might be bumpy, but we still get 3 credit card pitches including right up to the door opening on arrival. So what conclusion would the person without any context draw?
I'd have loved to seen a WAR pin on my F/A's uniform last week on AA.... 5 hour flight with no meal service in First (because we left a few minutes after 9), and the only service was one pass of the snack basket and one beverage service in the air, then 4 hours of closed curtain in the galley. No PDB, no offer of refill, no trash collected til landing. I mean, I know the no meal is just because AA is anything but premium. But disappearing act while saying "management is the problem" to the uninitiated could be misconstrued....
Those women are lucky to even have jobs! Go try serving drinks at McDonalds or Burger King if you don’t like what you’re doing! Sheesh!
Are you living in 1965? Yeah, right, only women crew members these days…
65% of FAs identify as female.
Correct 1990........they've recruited gay men as well.
Not sure if WAR is part of the solution or part of the problem.
What is it good for?
@1990 Union and Isarel have lots of answers for you.
Lol, they act like replacing the CEO will solve AA's problems. AA has financial issues and a culture problem. Culture may derive from leadership but it also begins with people, most of whom were there long before the current CEO.
And in MIA.
Its obvious that Isom will have another excuse at the end of 2026 for underachieving and not closing the gap with UA and DL.
Bringing customers into your employer/employee struggle is obnoxious. Could you imagine in the professional world, wearing some special WAR business tie while attending meetings with clients? A waiter at your favorite restaurant wearing anti-company or leadership pins? This, along with the lackadaisical service is why we don't like sky waitresses. They should protest by giving the best service in the industry, keeping their side of the street clean, and then *maybe* the finger pointing would...
Bringing customers into your employer/employee struggle is obnoxious. Could you imagine in the professional world, wearing some special WAR business tie while attending meetings with clients? A waiter at your favorite restaurant wearing anti-company or leadership pins? This, along with the lackadaisical service is why we don't like sky waitresses. They should protest by giving the best service in the industry, keeping their side of the street clean, and then *maybe* the finger pointing would be more justified.
Agreed, I have a hard time seeing this fly in other professional, customer facing industries.
That's what unions are for.
They're unionzed.... Even Frank Lorenzo failed to brake them apart.
Fire them all.
In a more serious vein, why would customers want to face that when they board a flight.
Do not air your dirty linen in public and expect sympathy. Especially if the service which you provide is not stellar.
That AA deval, when it comes in 2026, is gonna come in and and fast. LMAO
Bunch of lazy sad usless old cry babies. Fire them all, they are there to serve customers, not protest their boss.
When the leadership is so bad that airline is a failing airline making record losses every quarter with an undesirable product and route network, do you seriously think these are crybabies for trying to save the FAILING airline?
You sound insufferable jackson. Your hate for anything Union or anything “socialist” is so much that it clouds any logical thoughts
You don't think the FAs have ANYTHING to do with the airline underperforming? Get real. They're equally guilty.
"they are there to serve customers." You talk about them like they're slaves. They are there to earn a decent living, same reason the rest of us go to work.
The rest of us who make a decent living are all just glorified slaves.
Jj is just brainwashed by propaganda.
Jackson go back to your previous racists posts, you're a boring beta now
I hope AA fire them all. Greedy Union
Nah, union and its members are just fine; you meant 'greedy' Ayatollah Isom, $34.1 million in excessive compensation (2023).
How much should a CEO make that manages 130,000 employees?
@1990
How much do you think ALPA president makes?
How do those boots taste fellas? *slurrrrp*
Completely Un-American for workers to protest. It is absolutely stupid that workers are allowed to protest in the first place under the protection of leftist unions.
America has always been built on great singular leadership and staff should always obey, submit and commit to the company's leadership.
We're heading into dangerous terriority if we allow unions to have their say, next we'll make leadership take pay cuts when the company doesn't do well...
Completely Un-American for workers to protest. It is absolutely stupid that workers are allowed to protest in the first place under the protection of leftist unions.
America has always been built on great singular leadership and staff should always obey, submit and commit to the company's leadership.
We're heading into dangerous terriority if we allow unions to have their say, next we'll make leadership take pay cuts when the company doesn't do well like they do in Japan and we won the war for a reason.
Nope, freedom of assembly and speech clearly protected under 1st Amendment. Unions, collective bargaining, and solidarity for your co-workers and all workers is what built the middle class and the American Dream.
JPlat was being sarcastic, at least I hope...
Same name, but purpose has evolved.
Unions in the past were created to protect the hard working middle class and their American dream from greedy industrialist.
Union today is operating to protect the lazy not working but overspending class and their wannabe TikTok lifestyle dream from the free market economy.
I can’t tell if real or fake Eskimo, but disagree on the last part; unions and their members still have merit, and these workers deserve better.
The first amendment does not apply to American Airlines or any other private business. The constitution is about what the government can do.