Flight attendants demand better pay, working conditions outside Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Flight attendants from multiple unions rallied outside Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport demanding better pay and working conditions on Tuesday. This was part of what’s being called a “Worldwide Flight Attendant Day of Action.”

More than 100,000 flight attendants were picketing in more than 30 cities in the U.S., the U.K. and Guam.

Organizers said this was the largest flight attendant action day in history.

Dozens stood at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International’s North Terminal for hours.

The flight attendants who rallied were from Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Air Wisconsin, United Airlines, Omni Air International, Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines and more.

Organizers said more than two-thirds of flight attendants in the country are currently in contract negotiations with their employers. The frontline workers said they want the corporate groups to pay them a more livable wage with better benefits like other workers.

One woman said some flight attendants are homeless, sleeping in cars and taking showers at local gyms because of their low wages.

“So, Southwest Airlines flight attendants, we have been in negotiations for over five years. You have flight attendants that haven’t had a raise in five years,” said Alison Head, who represents union workers with Southwest Airlines. “We are the frontline that makes the bottom line for these airlines. CEOs continue to take bonuses, while we are out here working, making sure that we get our fair share as well.”

The group said they want the devaluing to end now and want to be respected for their work, adding that they are first responders of the air.

The rallies were in other major cities like Chicago, Dallas, Boston, New York and Miami.