Alaska Airlines
, the fifth-largest carrier in the US, has been making headlines during this past year. Earlier this year, the airline encountered a very public safety incident when a door plug disconnected from the fuselage of a Boeing 737 MAX 9
inflight. Furthermore, Alaska recently began a long merger process with Honolulu-based Hawaiian Airlines
to bulk up its West Coast presence.
However, it seems more challenges are ahead for the Seattle-based carrier. Alaska is now facing more labor challenges as it enters one of the busiest travel months of the year. The carrier’s flight attendants are intensifying their demands for a new contract and are now using the merger to further their case.
Previous tense negotiations
Like many airlines, Alaska has encountered some intense conflict with its labor groups in recent years. The carrier has been negotiating a new contract with its flight attendants for several months. The latest offer it made in August was rejected by 68% of its union members.
Photo: Paparacy | Shutterstock
This deal, created with the help of federal mediation, involved an average pay hike of 32%, payment for boarding time, and reassignment pay. However, negotiations were forced to continue after flight attendants voted against the deal.
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Continued discussions
The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), representing over 6,000 Alaska flight attendants, has continued negotiations with the airline through a federal mediator. Flight attendants claimed several key factors suggested that the airline could afford to pay its flight attendants more than they offered.
Alaska just completed a costly purchase of Hawaiian. Though the carrier is relatively smaller than its peers, the acquisition came with a hefty price tag of $1.9 billion. Cabin crews also pointed to the high salaries of senior management as further evidence that the carrier could afford to compensate its inflight crews more generously.
Photo: Alaska Airlines
According to The Seattle Times, discussions are now forced to move at an accelerated pace. The union hopes to ratify a new contract before discussions in March that will work to integrate Hawaiian’s flight attendants (and seniority list) with Alaska’s. Failure to complete this contract before then could result in the carrier’s crew members losing out on some of the proposed changes.
What’s next?
The first round of mediation occurred from November 19th to November 21, 2024. Though no specific details about the negotiations and new contract were revealed, the union said in an update to its members that progress has been made on both sides to build a better contract.
Photo: GingChen | Shutterstock
Though progress towards this new contract has taken longer than expected, both sides are working to come to a mutually beneficial solution. Two additional mediation sessions are scheduled for December 2024 and January 2025, which both parties hope will be enough to settle on a new deal.
The union has warned members against any collective action like coordinated sick calls or other planned disruptions, as they are illegal in the interest of keeping a reliable schedule this holiday season. This is good news for Alaska and its passengers relying on the airline for winter transportation.