Are there any employers, let alone airlines, that are willing to pay their hourly employees for their meal breaks? Seriously.
The only ones I know of that did was before the strike, NWA mechanics for afternoon and midnight shifts and ten hour days. United worked a 8:15 day(not sure if they still do, but I think they held onto that), so the company paid 15 minutes of the lunch. Alaska(new contract) and SWA still have it for midnight shift.
Almost all airlines still have a paid lunch clause that requires a penalty for a late or no lunch in the form of 1/2 hour or more of pay - twu gave that up at AA. Now they can send you to lunch whenever they want or just don't send you at all and there is no recourse. Some have gone to the DOL but to no luck, as they just look the other way.
BTW...the twu gave up the 8 hour day almost 20 years ago on all shifts, while the rest of the industry is just getting hit for it now.
I'll tell you even more, I gave my notice last week. My last day will be Oct. 31st.
Hey are you going to wear your future uniform to work for your last day, being that it will be Halloween.
Oneflyer's New Job