P.M. BRIEFING : United Airlines Flight Attendants Authorize Strike as Talks Falter

United Airlines flight attendants voted overwhelmingly for a strike authorization on a mail ballot, the union said today.

Pat Friend, president of the executive council of United flight attendants, said 95% of the ballots returned gave the leadership of the Assn. of Flight Attendants the go-ahead to call a strike if negotiations fail to produce an acceptable contract.

Although there have been negotiations with the Chicago-based airline since September, 1987, the flight attendants’ contract is still in effect. Under the Railway Labor Act that governs airline negotiations, contracts do not expire, but instead periodically become subject to amendment. Despite 22 months of negotiations, there has been virtually no progress at the bargaining table, even under the auspices of a federal mediator.

A tentative agreement reached in November, 1987, was rejected by 78% of the flight attendants because it contained major concessions.

Negotiations are in recess but no impasse has been declared by federal mediator Richard Cosgrave.