Due to a common airline policy in the United States that only pays cabin crew members when the aircraft is in motion, flight attendant Rebecca Owens puts in ten hours a day but only receives payment for half of that time. Owens wants that to change, as do hundreds of other members of the cabin staff.
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In August, a deal that would have increased average compensation by 32% over three years was rejected by 68% of Alaska flight attendants. Additionally, it was the first labor agreement that required airlines to pay staff members as soon as travelers boarded the aircraft rather than when the aircraft started taxiing down the runway.
Delta Air Lines (DAL.N), the only major U.S. airline whose flight attendants are not unionized, implemented boarding pay for its flight attendants at half of their hourly income in 2022 as they attempted to organize.
Alaskan and union leaders started federally mediated contract discussions this week.
“I want to be rewarded for my time at work and want an adequate salary so that you can survive on your own while holding down this job,” Owens, who is 35 years old, adds. She stated that without her husband’s income, her family would be unable to meet basic demands.
Negotiations at Alaska are widely observed since a single airline’s contract often becomes an industry benchmark. Cabin staff at United Airlines (UAL.O), Frontier (ULCC.O), and American Airlines’ (AAL.O) regional subsidiary PSA Airlines are all discussing new labor agreements.
Southwest Airlines (LUV.N) employees rejected two contract offers before agreeing to an agreement in April that includes a 22% salary increase this year and 3% annual hikes through 2027.
Flight attendants have been negotiating more confidently this year, bolstered by higher airline revenues and bumper pay settlements negotiated by pilot unions in the previous two years and Boeing factory interviews conducted this year with a dozen union representatives and airline workers.
According to the plane crew, these conversations are also influenced by years of dissatisfaction over remuneration that has behind inflation as working hours have climbed, lowering their quality of life.
Cabin crews at Alaska and United have authorized their unions to go on strike if contract negotiations fail.
In response to an inquiry from Reuters, Alaska Airlines stated that its goal is to give “market-competitive wages and benefits to flight attendants and all employees.”
United said it is providing “significant” raises to match past agreements at other airlines in addition to boarding compensation. It has also offered to shorten “on-call reserve periods” – when flight attendants are on standby and must report to work on short notice – to 12 hours from the existing 24-hour period, the business stated.
According to a United spokesman, “We continue to work toward an industry-leading contract,” and federally mediated contract negotiations are scheduled to start early next year.
According to Reuters, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), which represents United’s flight attendants, is asking for a number of concessions, such as lowering sick leave coverage and raising eligibility requirements for medical benefits in exchange for shorter “on-call reserve periods.”
“United’s offers would come with concessions to other parts of the contract that no other workgroups have agreed to,” the bargaining group warned. When asked about the compromises, United refuses to respond.
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