Before they give any approval to a potential merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, flight attendants for both carriers want to check out the deal and want certain assurances.
In addition to promises of pay increases – Alaska Airlines flight attendants, in fact, have already rejected a proposed 15 percent pay increase and set a strike vote for later this month – the group first wants certain guarantees, like no furloughs for instance.
Union representatives for both airline flight attendants have met with their various stakeholders, including government affairs officials and financial analysts, among others, to examine the contract. Representatives for the flight attendants will meet again in March.
They passed a resolution outlining their demands and have delivered it to the airline executives. On a good note, however, they did ask for expedited contract negotiations. The March meeting, and a subsequent meeting in April, are to determine how management acts on the proposals.
The flight attendants are doing their due diligence.
It’s a different strategy from the proposed merger between JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines, in which the flight attendants gave their blanket approval. That deal was blocked by a federal judge last month, although the two sides are appealing.
The flight attendants want what they call an “industry-leading” contract.
The potential merger was initiated by Alaska Airlines. The two carriers will come together under the Alaska banner if the merger is approved.
The union’s delay in endorsing the merger is possibly to press Alaska toward a contract agreement.
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