Abstract

• Flight attendants from completely different unions gathered for a Nationwide Day of Motion, demanding truthful contracts and office guidelines.
• Alaska Airways flight attendants voted to authorize a strike with 99.48% help.
• AFA Alaska and airline administration are making progress in negotiations, however financial points stay unresolved.

February 13, 2024, might be remembered because the day flight attendants from three completely different unions held a nationwide picket. Members of TWU 556, the Affiliation of Skilled Flight Attendants representing American Airways flight attendants, and the Affiliation of Flight Attendants representing practically 50,000 flight attendants at 19 airways, gathered throughout the US to demand higher pay and circumstances.

Why the Nationwide Day of Motion

As Sara Nelson, Worldwide President of the Affiliation of Flight Attendants (AFA), shared with Easy Flying, the thought was flying round flight attendant union leaders till Affiliation of Skilled Flight Attendants (APFA) President Julie Hedrick “referred to as the query” with the enthusiastic help of AFA Alaska President Jeff Peterson and AFA United Ken Diaz. The choice was made to set a date for what was anticipated to be a profitable strike authorization by AFA Alaska on February 13.

Nelson additionally shared with Easy Flying;

“We’re standing in solidarity to raise up our careers and ensure administration is aware of they need to really feel fortunate to have our work. Our calls for are vital for good motive, and we’re going to see them met. “

Hedrick additionally added in a joint assertion,

“Flight Attendants are talking with one voice. We’re telling administration to cease enjoying video games and negotiate the contracts that we’ve earned. Wall Avenue is doing effectively. Administration is doing effectively. It’s time for Flight Attendants to get a justifiable share of the worth we create and office guidelines that replicate the realities of as we speak’s {industry}.”

Therefore, there may be historic unified picketing at over 30 airports in North America and the UK’s Heathrow Airport. A lot to the enjoyment of AFA Alaska members and their allies, AFA United, APFA, and even TWU 556 despatched vital delegations to the Seattle picket.

There was one airline that didn’t have outstanding illustration from its flight attendants – that’s Delta Air Traces. Though AFA makes an attempt to unionize that airline’s flight attendants, these efforts have been met with Delta investing in communications and costly outreach – resembling steak dinners – to foyer flight attendants to not unionize. In response, the Congressional Labor Caucus despatched the letter under to Delta Air Traces requesting the airline go impartial through the union drive.

Within the letter, the Caucus refers to Delta Air Traces’ “internet hosting an anti-Union web site” and making threats in opposition to union organizers. As such, the letter requests for a “neutrality settlement” to uphold the Railway Labor Act directive of noninterference in such issues.

However how did that AFA Alaska strike authorization go?

AFA Alaska voted to authorize a strike with 99.48% of 93% of the workers. Nevertheless, authorizing a strike is just not a choice to go on strike.

First, flight attendants should search launch from the Nationwide Mediation Board (NMB) – and AFA Alaska President Peterson shared with Easy Flying that the choice might be reassessed after every mediation session. Moreover, APFA is making a second try for launch with an upcoming assembly with the NMB.

Second, If granted launch, there could be a 30-day cooling-off interval. A Presidential Emergency Board could also be convened to assist discover options and add extra time earlier than a proper launch to strike.

That mentioned, Alaska Airways flight attendants and their allies backed up their chants that if they didn’t get their contract, they’d… “shut it down.” As President Peterson shared in an AFA Alaska February 13 assertion,

“Our time is now! Alaska Flight Attendants as we speak backed up our struggle for an industry-leading contract with a 99.48% strike vote. And we’re out on the picket line demonstrating that we’re able to do no matter it takes to get the contract we deserve. There’s no excuse: Alaska administration has the cash to purchase one other airline; they definitely have the cash to put money into Flight Attendants. We have now a easy message for administration: Pay us or CHAOS!”

CHAOS? Sure, the strike tactic of strolling off of a flight or refusing to work routes out of an airport is what Peterson meant.

Certainly, that theme was out on the picket strains in indicators and phrases.

As Nelson shared in a February 13 assertion,

“You may’t fly with out Flight Attendants. If Alaska administration doesn’t keep in mind what occurs once you disrespect Flight Attendants, we’re prepared to point out them. It’s previous time for a good deal.”

There exists a resolve among the many members to get a good contract from SEA’s numerous picketing to the chilly of Anchorage, as proven under:

Moreover, in accordance with KIRO 7, the Seattle Chapter of AFA Alaska chief Paula Isla-McGill shared;

“We’re on the lookout for industry-leading wages, but in addition we’re making an attempt to finish the usual follow of not being paid for our whole time on obligation. We wish to receives a commission for boarding, we wish to receives a commission for floor time after we’re stranded.”

Certainly, flight attendants are on obligation for these instances and are answerable for the passengers, the plane, and their fellow aircrew. On that be aware, some flight attendants could have confided in Easy Flying a disappointment at having to picket for aggressive pay.

However once more, all to a soul dedicated to picketing not only for financial justice however the potential for a future picketing spherical to picket for secondary limitations and a nationwide no-fly checklist of unruly passengers. Such is the tight bonds of and for neighborhood amongst this workgroup – and more and more numerous supporters.

Lastly, the shortage of great pay will increase for a decade, as identified above, when the price of dwelling has risen 30.28%, is a matter. All this strife is just not wholesome for Alaska Airways organizationally.

Ongoing labor pressure endangers the Alaska Airways – Hawaiian Airways merger.

Moreover, the management of Alaska Airways and Hawaiian Airways flight attendant unions just lately met. The unions issued a joint decision on February 6 that to help the merger being sought means first an industry-leading contract for AFA Alaska. The next requests have been manufactured from each airways’ administration:

• Protections from furlough/lay-offs.
• No flight attendant loses their base task.
• A fence/steel settlement to guard the respective staff previous to the operational merger.
• An “undertake and go” / “undertake and amend” expedited joint contract negotiations yielding enhancements for all Flight Attendants, identical to administration and shareholders.
• AFA consultant involvement in security and repair modifications.

As AFA Alaska’s dad or mum union, the Affiliation of Flight Attendants Worldwide President Sara Nelson shared with Easy Flying on the matter,

“Administration is aware of how one can get our help. They’ll want it. The clock is ticking.”

Certainly, time stress exists; flight attendant union leaders will meet on March twenty fifth and April twenty sixth to evaluation the standing and resolve whether or not to help the merger effort. US nationwide aviation and financial regulators want assurances that the flight attendant unions can come to phrases with administration earlier than approving such a merger endeavor.

Administration response and hope for labor peace

In a prolonged Alaska Airways assertion by administration, under is essentially the most vital half;

We have now a powerful historical past of efficiently negotiating with our union companions, reaching agreements that profit staff whereas additionally securing the long-term success of the corporate. We stay optimistic within the negotiations course of. With six just lately closed labor offers on the firm and a tentative settlement reached in January for a brand new contract for our technicians, we’re hopeful to do the identical for our flight attendants as quickly as doable. AFA and Alaska management have met twice within the final three weeks and are persevering with to discount and meet with a mediator. Discussions have been productive, and within the final two classes, we reached 4 tentative agreements.

Though there may be nonetheless the chance of strike motion, AFA Alaska and airline administration are certainly making some progress in direction of closing out a contract as per under.

The subsequent spherical is April 16-18 because of restricted mediator availability. Nevertheless, vital motion must be made on financial points. Once more, the pledge to think about looking for launch from mediated talks hangs over every spherical now that strike authorization has been given.

Backside line

One ought to be aware that AFA Alaska’s struggles will quickly change into different flight attendant unions’ with out vital funding by airways into flight attendant contracts. Monetary markets acquired this, in accordance with US Information & World Report, as inflicting worth to drop by:

Clearly, triggering one’s flight attendant unions to picket and help one authorizing a strike is just not good for market values or buyer confidence. A number of flight attendants confided in Easy Flying that historic efforts to carry Alaska Airways administration to a malleable bargaining place got here from passengers not reserving flights with Alaska Airways.

What are your ideas? Please share your ideas with civility within the feedback.

• 

  Alaska Airways

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  AS/ASA

  Airline Kind:

  Full Service Service

  Hub(s):

  Anchorage Worldwide Airport, Los Angeles Worldwide Airport, Portland Worldwide Airport, San Francisco Worldwide Airport, Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport

  Yr Based:

  1932

  Alliance:

  oneworld

  CEO:

  Ben Minicucci

  Nation:

  United States

  Area:

  North America