“This is union activity.” Sara Nelson, head of AFA-CWA which represents flight attendants at United Airlines, takes credit for disrupting the carrier’s launch event for its new business class product.
Responding to JonNYC, who reported that the crewmembers who showed up at the Brooklyn Navy Yard event where United was unveiling its new business suites and service enhancements and took over the stage in protest had been suspended, Nelson argued that this union activity is ‘protected’.
This is union activity. Protected activity. Period.
— Sara Nelson (@FlyingWithSara) May 15, 2025
Here’s video of the protest. Flight attendants shouted, “if we don’t get it, shut it down” and “what do we want? A contract. When do we want it? Now!”
The FAs have their say at today’s UA new Polaris event pic.twitter.com/eyooJNbEGT
— JonNYC (@xJonNYC) May 13, 2025
But first, a brief protest by a very vocal group of United flight attendants demanding better contract terms. Good on them!
— Jason Rabinowitz (@airlineflyer.net) May 13, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Nelson is clearly incorrect in her claim that the union protest was ‘protected,’ and put her members in jeopardy. Airline employees do not have an open-ended right to storm a private corporate event.
Under the Railway Labor Act their protest is protected only so long as it doesn’t involve trespass, violence, or a material disruption of the carrier’s business. Once conduct crosses one of those lines, United can suspend or discharge them, subject to the just cause and grievance/arbitration procedures in the flight-attendant contract.
Unlike the National Labor Relations Act, the Railway Labor Act which governs airline labor relations does not guarantee employees access to an employer’s or a third party’s property, and it strictly regulates “self-help.”
Leafleting or picketing outside the facility would be legally permissible. Entering a non-public, invitation-only event, shouting down speakers, or commandeering the stage are not. Discipline up to discharge is probably defensible because:
- The venue was rented for a media showcase and flight attendants entered without permission.
- Conduct disrupted a brand presentation in front of customers and press.
- There is no claim union members were denied alternative means to protest (they could picket outside).
The union will likely fie a grievance over any discipline, but arbitrators typically ask two questions: (1) was the protest protected? (probably “no”—it involved trespass and disruption.) and (2) Even if partly protected, did United impose discipline because of the message or because of the misconduct?
If United can show it would discipline any employee who hijacked a corporate event, discipline is likely to be upheld.
The union’s best defense is that the protest was peaceful, brief, and caused no measurable harm—arguing, then, that discipline should be limited to short suspension and that more severe penalties would be retaliatory.
Union monopolies should be antitrusted
Labor/Management relations at United have never been on solid footing, and for decades vacillate between acrimonious to indifferent. As to United’s plus up of the Polaris brand and product, it sure does look nice, but much of it will be pared back, just like it was when Polaris was first rolled out in 2016 (it actually didn’t appear on planes until late 2017 or early 2018). Remember the wine flights? Chocolates in boxes? Cooling gel pillows? United is a trunk carrier that arguably does perform better now than it ever has, but the brand isn’t synonymous with style, luxury, or white glove service. No US carrier is. Service on US carriers ranges from folksy down home pleasantries to rude, indifferent, and cold. There is no concept of gracious service culture in America.
How do you know they trespassed?
I would not be surprised if a lower level employee of the venue believed they were part of the presentation and let them walk by , that would not be trespassing.
I have no idea how they got in but it does matter for your claim of trespass.
@30Weat – regardless of whether they were “let in” or not they were not invited so it absolutely was trespassing. This was not a public place, like a retail shop or restaurant so UA had the right to limit participation to only invited guests (which they were not). BTW you can trespass even in a public place. A common example is LV casinos which will issue an order barring people for any number of reasons then if they set foot in there they can go to jail.
BTW in addition to trespassing they disrupted the event which is another issue. Bottom line they screwed up and likely will be fired. Nelson is an idiot.
In a free society, the employer could choose to do whatever they want in regard to the worker’s employment status.
It’s sad that Nelson wasn’t launched into space last month with the other female “astronauts,” then launched out the airlock.
I’m not hiring 30west as my attorney. Not being stopped is not a defense. I can’t see how anyone thinks this is good for the union. But, I also couldn’t see why anyone would support Biden, Harris, or Trump.
These explanations of the mind numblingly stupid machinations of the bureaucratic thought process are quite exhausting.
In a free and fair society, employees that also have the right to quit their jobs without notice should also be able to be fired without notice, let alone for gross insubordination and publicly embarrassing their employer, the cost of which in bad publicity and riling up employees could be in the hundreds of millions. United might consider a lawsuit against the union, as there were real damages caused by their illegal behavior. I’d welcome that, though no chance the spinless UA mgmt slugs would do that.
It might shock these idiot FAs that 95%+ of Earth’s population can be fired for any reason whatsoever. Entitled lazy American FAs are not heros. Everyone hates you. Read to room.
..look for…. the Union Label….
Nice. This is the equivalent of Randy Marsh’s: “I didn’t hear no bell.”
Glad to see the union actually support its members and their advocacy, even if some find it distasteful. I’m sure those members find management’s ‘bad faith’ (resisting negotiations for new contract) similarly distasteful.
However, Gary’s conclusion is pre-mature, “Nelson is clearly incorrect,” because this likely will be litigate, and not in the court of ‘public opinion,’ rather actual courts may decide whether this was protected or not as that determination is legally significant.
Let’s keep following this. Let’s keep it in the spotlight. Ultimately, that attention is good for the underlying issue here. Hopefully the flight attendants get their new, better contract soon!
@Mike P — You often conflate ‘freedom’ and ‘liberty’ on here. Recall that ‘freedom’ is the absence of constraints, while ‘liberty’ is the ability to act within a defined system of rights and responsibilities. Liberty is a more ethical form of freedom, taking into account the rights and freedoms of others. You seem to prefer freedom of employers to mistreat employees, which is not great. I’d certainly prefer the liberty of workers to advocate for their rights, organize, collectively bargain, and support better outcomes for themselves and others, including the companies that they work in. We can do better than mere ‘freedom.’ We deserve better.
“Fie a grievance”. Nice!
All are getting paid while grounded !!! We win again !!!
The root of the problem is these flight attendants have been without a wage increase in over 5 years. This contract should have been settled years ago.
all she has accomplished is getting UA FAs wound up and in destroying customer service, one spot where UA was making good progress.
No one knows for sure what is the hangup in negotiations but it appears the union and company have ridiculous demands.
Add on the frustration w/ the mechanics who will certain act out in some way of their own if they don’t see progress and the issues in NYC and EWR and 2025 could be one of UA’s more difficult years.
“The root of the problem is these flight attendants have been without a wage increase in over 5 years. This contract should have been settled years ago.” OK, but whose at fault? It is equally likely it’s the union or UA. There are some here that seem to think it is purely UAs fault despite have no inside information.