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Alaska Airlines flight attendants have rejected a tentative agreement that would have 32% salary increases on averageThis happened after almost two years of negotiations between members working with the Association of Flight Attendants union.
“This is our union democracy in action,” said the union in a statement Wednesday. “This is our contract and we will fight to resolve the members’ concerns as quickly as possible.”
In a statement provided to Quartz, Alaska Airlines said: “We remain committed to reaching an agreement that recognizes the critical role of our flight attendants and is good for Alaska’s long-term success.”
68 percent of the votes were against the contract, 32 percent were in favor, and voter turnout was 92.4 percent. In addition to the salary increase, the contract would have also granted Alaska flight attendants so-called “boarding pay,” i.e. compensation for the time they spend checking in passengers before the flight. Flight attendants are usually not on duty until the plane’s doors are closed.
The union will then consult its members on adjustments to the contract, request new negotiating dates under federal mediation and “plan additional mobilization efforts that will be necessary to put pressure on management, increase our influence and get additional money for a new tentative agreement.”
If a new round of negotiations reaches a deadlock, an outside chance that the flight attendants could go on strike. In February, their union approved such action with almost unanimity.
