The National Mediation Board (NMB), which coordinates labor and management relations within the US airline industry, has officially rejected the Association of Professional Flight Attendants' (APFA) request to be released from negotiations with American Airlines. The APFA has been in contract negotiations with the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas-based airline for nearly five years, but has yet to reach an agreement. Due to the recent lack of discussions, the APFA submitted a formal request to the NMB on November 20 to be released from negotiations with American Airlines.

The APFA formally requested this release on November 20. The request would also allow the union to begin the strike process after a 30-day cooling-off period. The APFA obtained the vote of 93% of its members to authorize a strike after the APFA made public the initial negotiation deadline of November 17.

APFA National President Julie Hedrick issued a statement regarding the NMB's denied application, saying:

"As of today, the National Mediation Board (NMB) has denied our request for release in a 30-day cooling-off period. American Airlines flight attendants are working below negotiated salaries in 2014 as management continues negotiations with contract proposals that reflect the current economic climate does not address it."

According to the Dallas Morning News, the APFA recently requested an immediate 35% pay increase. He also requested a 6% annual salary increase for the next three years. American Airlines responded to this offer with an initial 18% pay increase, including an 11% increase in base salary. The counteroffer also included a 2% annual increase. The APFA's most recent statement also said:

"Corporate greed is alive and well at American Airlines. For too long, airline management has exploited employees and diverted profits into their own pockets, as evidenced by management's recent lucrative bonus and incentive program. US".

This statement comes after American Airlines CEO Robert Isom recently received a $2.75 million bonus. This bonus came after Isom received $8.25 million in stock options and a base salary of $1.3 million.

The airline and the union have been negotiating for almost five years. The airline has received one proposal since March and was returned a second counterproposal in September. The airline's lack of negotiations led the APFA to request that negotiations cease. If the NMB had accepted the request, the AFPA would have gone on strike.

In response to the NMB's denied request, American Airlines issued a statement saying:

"We look forward to continuing negotiations with the APFA and reaching an agreement that our flight attendants have earned."

The airline and APFA will continue to work on an acceptable contract after a request to be released from negotiations was rejected.