Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants Vote to Authorize Strike Amid Contract Negotiations
Flight attendants with Alaska Airlines have voted to authorize a strike for the first time in over 30 years, raising the stakes in their ongoing contract negotiations. The vote comes after nearly a year of negotiations, during which flight attendants have held multiple protests outside the Anchorage airport and other airports across the country.
The decision to authorize a strike does not guarantee that a strike will occur, but it demonstrates the frustration and dissatisfaction among flight attendants. They argue that while pilots have received significant pay increases, some flight attendants are not even earning a livable wage. Many flight attendants are forced to rely on their partner’s or spouse’s income for financial stability.
Rebecca Owens, spokesperson for the Local Council 30 in Anchorage for the Association of Flight Attendants, stated that first-year flight attendants at Alaska Airlines make an average base pay of less than $24,000 annually. She emphasized that this is not enough to support oneself and called for reasonable pay increases for flight attendants.
To voice their concerns, flight attendants and supporters picketed outside 30 airports in three countries, including the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Dozens of off-duty flight attendants, joined by pilots, held picket signs and chanted slogans near the Alaska Airlines terminal. Signs read, “Alaska makes $$$$,” and “We can’t make rent.”
Alaska Airlines responded to the strike authorization vote by stating that they are making progress in the negotiations. They expressed optimism in reaching a new contract for flight attendants, highlighting that they have recently closed six labor deals and reached a tentative agreement with technicians in January. The company also emphasized that a strike would not happen quickly and that many more steps would need to take place before it becomes a possibility.
The dispute between Alaska Airlines and its flight attendants comes at a challenging time for the airline. Last month, a Boeing 737 Max 9 airplane experienced a fuselage blow-off during a flight, leading to groundings of the planes. The incident disrupted flight schedules and added further pressure to the airline.
Despite facing disrupted operations, Alaska Airlines has reported large profits and has even offered $1.9 billion to acquire Hawaiian Airlines. However, flight attendants argue that the company has not offered reasonable pay increases to address their financial struggles. The union claims that many flight attendants receive poverty-level wages, and some are even on welfare.
Before a strike can occur, the National Mediation Board must declare that negotiations are deadlocked, triggering a 30-day “cooling off” period. During this period, both parties have the opportunity to reach a resolution before a strike deadline is set. The flight attendants’ union follows a strike strategy known as CHAOS, which involves unannounced strikes on random flights to create havoc and put pressure on the airline.
The last time Alaska Air flight attendants went on strike was in 1993, and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA warns that history could repeat itself if a fair deal is not reached. Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants International, stated, “You can’t fly without flight attendants. If Alaska management doesn’t remember what happens when you disrespect flight attendants, we are ready to show them. It’s past time for a fair deal.”
As negotiations continue between Alaska Airlines and its flight attendants, the outcome remains uncertain. The strike authorization vote demonstrates the determination of flight attendants to secure better pay and working conditions. Only time will tell if their efforts will lead to a resolution or if CHAOS will disrupt Alaska Airlines’ operations once again.
