US Airways flight attendants plan strike vote

TEMPE, AZ - More than 6,500 US Airways flight attendants will take a strike vote after rejecting a contract with the airline.

The Association of Flight Attendants confirmed the move to ABC15.

"The decision to take a strike vote is not made lightly.  It was the result of full deliberation of strategic options," said Corey Caldwell in an emailed statement to ABC15.

The vote on whether to authorize a strike is set to begin Oct. 31 and close Nov. 20. 

According to a US Airways spokesperson, there would be a 30-day cooling-off period following the vote before any strike action could happen.

The cooling-off period would end just before the busy holiday travel before Christmas.

The move comes after the union twice rejected contracts submitted by the airline. The most recent rejection, last month, was voted down by a narrow margin, 51 percent to 49 percent.

Since America West and US Airways merged several years ago, the flight attendants from the two airlines have operated under separate contracts.  The union has been negotiating to reach a joint agreement, which has failed.

Strike votes are not uncommon and typically approved, however, rarely lead to an actual strike.