An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-900ER aircraft on the tarmac at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in Seattle, Washington, U.S., on Monday, January 22, 2024.
David Ryder | Bloomberg |
Alaska Airlines Flight attendants rejected a new collective agreement that would have brought immediate pay increases averaging more than 24%, their union said on Wednesday. This means both sides are ready for further talks as a merger with Hawaiian Airlines looms.
The union and the company had agreed on a provisional “record agreement” in June, which, in addition to an average salary increase of around 32 percent over the duration of the three-year contract, also provided for on-board compensation and back payments, according to the Association of Flight Attendants (CWA).
“There is still a lot of work to be done,” the union said, adding that it would conduct a member survey to “identify the most important issues and then bring them back to the bargaining table to discuss them.”
In a statement, the airline said: “We remain committed to reaching an agreement that reflects the critical role of our flight attendants and is good for Alaska’s long-term success.”
After Covid-19 put most collective bargaining on hold, airline workers across the industry pushed for pay increases and better working conditions. Salaries and fuel are the biggest costs for airlines, and negotiations at some airlines had already been contentious before new contracts were approved.
While pilots at major airlines have signed collective bargaining agreements over the past two years, employees at other airlines continue to demand better pay.
American Airlines reached an agreement with the flight attendants’ union last month and members are currently voting on ratification. United Airlines is still negotiating a new contract with the flight attendants’ union.
