July 9, 2025

Shift Change PT 1 - Redefining Union Power

Show Notes

Flight attendants are the face of the airline industry, yet many still aren't paid until the plane leaves the gate—while executives take home millions.

Michael Desrosiers talks with Sara Nelson, International President of the Association of Flight Attendants, about what’s behind the latest contract fight at United Airlines and why this moment matters for every airline worker. With decades of experience in labor organizing, Sara lays out how outdated laws, corporate tactics, and union density shape what workers can win—and what they’re still being denied.

The conversation traces the long arc of labor rights in the airline industry, from the aftermath of 9/11 and a wave of bankruptcies to the current push for boarding pay and sit-time protections. Sara explains how the Railway Labor Act limits the right to strike, why Delta’s flight attendants are organizing without a contract, and what it really means to bargain under pressure when CEOs are already cashing in.

What happens when the face of the airline, its workers, finally demands their share? And what’s lost when a contract gets voted down? This episode is a clear-eyed look at worker power, corporate delay tactics, and the strategic fight to take back what labor built.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

01:06 Union Power and Labor Wins

03:03 How Labor Law Shapes Airline Contracts

05:54 United Airlines Tentative Agreement Explained

07:10 Corporate Influence and Political Climate

10:05 Why Union Density Impacts Income Inequality

14:08 9/11’s Lasting Impact on Airline Labor

19:10 Pandemic Relief and the Payroll Support Program

21:06 Delta Airlines and Union Busting Tactics

26:05 The Role of Pattern Bargaining in Raising Standards

29:03 The Push for Boarding Pay and Fair Compensation