American Airlines flight attendants have expressed their dissatisfaction and lack of confidence in senior executive Brady Byrnes. They delivered a letter of no confidence to the CEO, Robert Isom, but were denied access and instead delivered it to Byrnes himself. The flight attendants’ frustration stems from Byrnes’ refusal to relocate crew members from a hotel in Philadelphia where a colleague was found dead under suspicious circumstances. The flight attendants claim that their concerns about safety were met with indifference from Byrnes, leading to their loss of confidence in his leadership.
In addition to the issue of the deceased colleague, the letter also highlighted other concerns such as a “dehumanizing” performance point system for arriving late to boarding gates and a lack of training resources. The flight attendants argue that Byrnes’ lack of support and empathy towards their safety and well-being speaks volumes about his leadership abilities. They called for Byrnes to engage with and listen to the flight attendants on the front lines and address their concerns.
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), which represents the flight attendants, had previously voted to authorize a strike if American Airlines did not agree to reasonable contract terms. Currently, the union is bargaining with the airline for wage increases, improved working conditions, and other benefits. The outcome of this dispute and the flight attendants’ vote of no confidence in Byrnes will have implications for the ongoing negotiations between the APFA and American Airlines.
