On the Line Episode 29: Sara Nelson: Crisis and Opportunity Ahead
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Sep 16, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Sara Nelson, President of the Association of Flight Attendants and a prominent labor advocate, shares her insights from nearly 30 years in the labor movement. She emphasizes the impact of political policies on workers' rights and highlights the importance of solidarity in overcoming challenges. The talk also covers the evolution of the airline industry, recent successful labor movements, and the ongoing campaign for union representation among Delta flight attendants. Sara inspires a vision for a more equitable future through collective action.
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Rescued By A Union Coworker
- Sara Nelson recounts starting as a flight attendant while juggling four jobs and nearly losing housing due to missing paychecks.
- A fellow flight attendant loaned her $800 and prompted her to call the union, which secured her paycheck the next day.
9/11 Shaped Her Union Fight
- Sara Nelson describes losing colleagues on United Flight 175 after 9/11 and seeing crisis capitalists use the tragedy to devalue aviation jobs.
- That experience taught her how corporations exploit crises to cut wages, benefits, and outsource work.
Workers Hold The Real Leverage
- Nelson emphasizes workers hold the power because nothing runs without labour and that withholding work forces concessions.
- She frames labor power as the ultimate leverage against wealthy capitalists and their narrative of inevitable dominance.