Rajesh Kumar Singh
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Alaska Airlines flight attendant Rebecca Owens works 10 hours a day but is only paid half that time – a legacy of a similar U.S. airline policy to pay cabin crew members only when the planes are in flight. Owens, and thousands of camp workers like him, want this to change.
In August, 68% of Alaska airlines in a ratification vote rejected a contract that would increase average wages by 32% over three years. It was also the first labor agreement that would legally require airlines to start paying flight attendants when passengers board, not when the plane starts to run down the runway.
Delta Air Lines, the only major U.S. airline with non-unionized flight crews, has begun paying its flight attendants half their hourly wages in 2022 as they try to plan.
Alaska and union leaders resumed union contract negotiations this week.
“I want to be paid for my work time and I also want a salary so that you can be independent while working in this job,” said Owens (35). She says that without her husband’s money, her family would not be able to afford it. to meet basic needs.
Negotiations at Alaska are being watched closely because the contract for one airline appears to be the industry benchmark. Workers at United Airlines, Frontier and American Airlines in the PSA Airlines region are negotiating new labor contracts.
Southwest Airlines workers rejected two contracts before agreeing to a deal in April that included a 22% raise this year and 3% annual raises through 2027.
Pilots have been negotiating with more confidence this year, spurred by improved airline fares and more wages negotiated by pilot unions over the past two years with Boeing factory workers this year, according to interviews with 12 airline workers and union officials.
Airline workers told Reuters the negotiations are also informed by years of frustration over wages that have fallen short of inflation while working hours have increased, harming their livelihoods.
Cabin crews at Alaska and United have authorized their unions to call a strike if negotiators fail to reach a contract agreement.
Alaska Airlines responded to a question from Reuters saying its goal is to provide “flight attendants — all employees — with market-competitive wages and benefits.” United did not respond to a request for comment.
BURN IT
In previous contract negotiations, airlines have secured contracts from workers as the industry has been struggling due to the economic downturn or fallout from the COVID pandemic.