American Airlines flight attendants, represented by a labor union, have rejected the company’s proposal for an immediate 17% pay raise.

CEO Robert Isom had offered this wage increase earlier on Wednesday as contract negotiations continue without resolution, potentially bringing the threat of a strike closer.

The airline and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants have faced challenges in reaching a new contract agreement, particularly regarding pay, with flight attendants having not received raises since before the pandemic.

Isom acknowledged progress in certain areas but highlighted that there is still much work to be done, CNBC has reported.

The union stated that both parties are scheduled to meet with federal mediators next week in a final attempt to reach a deal, warning that flight attendants should prepare for the possibility of a strike.

While strikes are rare in the airline industry, the last one occurred among Spirit Airlines pilots in 2010.

If an agreement cannot be reached, federal mediators would initiate a release process, which could take several weeks to unfold.

Written by B.C. Begley