By Rajesh Kumar Singh
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Alaska Airlines flight attendant Rebecca Owens works 10 hours a day however is paid solely half that point – a legacy of a standard U.S. airline coverage of paying employees members cabin crew solely when the planes are transferring. Owens, and 1000’s of cabin crew members like her, need that to vary.
In August, 68% of Alaska flight attendants in a ratification vote rejected a contract that will have elevated common pay by 32% over three years. It was additionally the primary union settlement that will legally require airways to start out the invoice to pay flight attendants when passengers board, not when the flight begins to taxi down the runway.
Delta Air Lines, the one main U.S. airline whose flight attendants are usually not unionized, instituted boarding pay for its flight attendants equal to half their hourly wages in 2022, once they had been attempting to prepare.
Alaska and union leaders resumed federally mediated contract negotiations this week.
“I need to be compensated for the time I spend at work and I need a livable wage so you possibly can stand by yourself two toes whereas doing this job,” Owens, 35, mentioned. She mentioned that with out her husband’s earnings, her household wouldn’t have the ability to take action. fulfill fundamental wants.
Negotiations in Alaska are intently watched as a result of an airline’s contract tends to develop into an business benchmark. Cabin crews at United Airlines, Frontier and American Airlines’ regional subsidiary PSA Airlines are additionally negotiating new labor agreements.
Southwest Airlines crews rejected two contract presents earlier than ratifying a deal in April that included a 22% pay increase this yr and a 3% annual improve by way of 2027.
Flight attendants have negotiated with extra confidence this yr, inspired by enhancing airline earnings and bumper pay offers negotiated by pilots’ unions prior to now two years and Boeing employees this yr, in line with interviews with a dozen of airline crews and union officers.
The aircraft’s crew informed Reuters that these negotiations are additionally influenced by years of resentment over wages which have lagged behind inflation whereas working hours have elevated, hurting their high quality of life.
Alaska and United cabin crews have approved their unions to name strikes if negotiators fail to succeed in a contractual settlement.
Alaska Airlines responded to a Reuters question by saying its objective is to supply “flight attendants – and all workers – market-competitive wages and advantages.” United didn’t reply to a request for remark.
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In earlier contract negotiations, airways had secured concessions from employees whereas the business struggled because of the financial downturn or fallout from the COVID pandemic.
