For the previous few years, we’ve seen flight attendants at most main US airways negotiating new contracts. Previous to this, flight attendants largely didn’t have pay will increase since earlier than the pandemic, so that they had been understandably in search of massive pay bumps, to mirror the inflation we’ve seen in recent times.
Up till now, flight attendants at Southwest and American have ratified new contracts. Delta flight attendants aren’t unionized, so that they get proactive pay raises. United flight attendants are the least far alongside in negotiations, and are tremendous pissed off.
There some nice information at Alaska, as flight attendants have simply ratified a brand new contract, which they began voting on roughly a month in the past. For what it’s price, that is the second contract they’ve voted on, as they rejected the primary one. Let’s go over the main points, beginning with the fundamentals of the contract that they rejected.
The contract Alaska flight attendants voted in opposition to
For some background, in June 2024, the Affiliation of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents Alaska’s flight attendants, had reached a tentative settlement with Alaska administration for a “document contract,” because the union described it.
The union said that this tentative settlement had been reached with the assistance of the Nationwide Mediation Board (NMB). Negotiations befell in Washington, with AFA Worldwide President Sara Nelson and AFA Common Counsel in attendance, together with Alaska Chief Working Officer Constance von Muehlen.
Per the particulars of the proposed contract, flight attendants would obtain a mean pay increase of 32% in the long term. This would come with an instantaneous hourly pay bump of 18%, plus 3% pay will increase within the two subsequent years. Flight attendants would additionally obtain boarding pay, plus retroactive pay going again so far as late 2022.
Under you could find the proposed Alaska flight attendant pay scale, exhibiting the present pay, plus the pay after the primary increase, second increase, and third increase.
Having a tentative contract in any respect was already massive progress. Again in February 2024, Alaska flight attendants voted to authorize a strike, with 99.5% of members voting in favor of a strike (and 93.5% of flight attendants taking part within the vote).
Sadly for all concerned, the precise membership wasn’t as enthusiastic in regards to the new contract because the union was. In August 2024, it was revealed that the brand new contract was rejected — 92.4% of flight attendants participated within the vote, and 68% of votes had been in opposition to the brand new contract.
Alaska flight attendants lastly approve a brand new contract
Over 5 months after the earlier contract was rejected, the Affiliation of Flight Attendants-CWA returned to Alaska flight attendants with a brand new tentative contract. Over the previous month, flight attendants have been voting on the contract, and there’s now a optimistic replace.
The contract has been ratified, with 90.8% of eligible voters taking part within the vote, and 95% of votes being in favor of the brand new contract. As you’ll be able to inform, these are very completely different outcomes than we noticed final time round.
Why had been flight attendants so enthusiastic this time round? After they had been offered this tentative contract, right here’s how the union described it, because it got here with a reasonably vital warning:
After a brief however vigorous combat on the bargaining desk, the Negotiating Committee (NC) is happy to current a successor Tentative Settlement (TA2). You had been very clear about particular disappointments of TA1 after it was voted down, and your NC listened carefully and addressed a lot of these points in TA2 bargaining.
Additional, our federal mediator and the Nationwide Mediation Board have been direct of their communication to us that ought to TA2 not ratify, they might be unlikely to commit additional sources to mediating a “TA3.” Administration additionally indicated they are going to allocate their bargaining sources towards merger issues and JCBA negotiations.
The selection earlier than us is evident; your vote will both solidify the enhancements secured in TA2 or it can point out your need to retain our present contract with none enhancements in pay and dealing situations till the top of JCBA negotiations, which is more likely to take years.
So yeah, the union principally informed members to just accept the brand new contract, or count on to not get a brand new contract in any respect. This newest contract is just like the earlier one, with some minor enhancements. The largest distinction is round boarding pay, as these charges have been bumped. The brand new contract additionally gives will increase in pay premiums.
I’m glad to see that this contract has been ratified. Flight attendants are getting some properly deserved raises for his or her onerous work, and it ought to hopefully additionally assist with morale.
Alaska has all the time been a difficult airline relating to worker pay charges. Alaska flight attendants have argued that their bases are in among the highest value cities in the USA, which is true. Nonetheless, traditionally Alaska hasn’t precisely had the very best pay within the trade. The airline has paid a lot better than extremely low value carriers, however not persistently to the identical stage as carriers like Southwest.
Alaska flight attendants clearly need trade main pay, which I can’t fault them for — who doesn’t? However that’s not what the airline was traditionally going for.
Backside line
Alaska flight attendants have simply ratified a brand new contract, which they’ve been voting on for the previous month. The assist for this was overwhelming, with 95% of members voting in favor of ratifying the contract. That’s fairly a change from the contract that they rejected in August 2024.
The enhancements right here over the earlier contract are in the end incremental. So I think what prompted the widespread assist for this contract was the warning about this in all probability being the final shot they’d have at a greater deal.
What do you make of Alaska flight attendants ratifying a brand new contract?
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