For the first time in almost 30 years,
flight attendants for Alaska Airlines will vote on a strike authorization.
The month-long voting process will begin
on January 8.
The announcement to authorize a strike
vote came on the same day that the flight attendants protested at eight major
airports. Negotiations have continued for over a year, and flight attendants
are frustrated that they have not received a contract offer, especially after
Alaska Airlines offered $1.9 billion to buy Hawaiian Air.
"The truth is Alaska
management can afford an industry leading contract," said Jeffrey
Peterson, president of the Alaska chapter of the Association of Flight
Attendants-CWA.
"Management's unwillingness to
present adequate proposals brought us to this strike vote announcement,"
Peterson continued. "Our quality of life is non-negotiable. We will not
accept terms that leave us falling even further behind the industry for years
to come. Enough."
"We respect their protected
right to engage in these activities and do not expect any disruption to our
operation or service as a result," an Alaska spokesperson said. "Any
employee participating in these activities is not scheduled to work, and they
are not on strike."
"In October this year, we
provided an updated comprehensive economic offer — the largest we've made in
our history for our flight attendants' contract — that would put our flight
attendants at or near the top of the industry in most areas, including
pay," the spokesperson continued. "The proposal included an immediate
15 percent increase to the wage scale, market rate adjustments to keep them in
line with new contracts at other airlines, and no changes to duty day.”
Alaska Airlines has almost 7,000
flight attendants. Although a strike won't happen over the holidays, it could
happen anytime and without notice after the authorization vote.
The carrier said it still plans to
negotiate with the union on a new contract and revealed it has at least two
meetings scheduled in the next six weeks.
The union announced that a strike
could be across the entire Alaska Airlines system or disrupt just one flight.
Before a strike occurs, the
National Mediation Board must declare that negotiations are at an impasse.
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