Written by Rajesh Kumar Singh
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Alaska Airlines flight attendant Rebecca Owens works 10 hours a day but is only paid for half that time – a legacy of the U.S. airline’s standard policy of paying cold-call workers only when flights are in flight. Owens, and thousands of cabin crew like him, want that to change.
In August, 68% of Alaska Airlines workers in a ratification vote rejected a contract that would have increased average wages by 32% over three years. It was also the first labor agreement that would legally require airlines to start the clock to pay flight attendants when passengers board, not when the plane starts taxiing on the runway.
Delta Air Lines, the only major U.S. airline with non-unionized flight attendants, instituted a fare hike for its flight attendants at half of their hourly wages in 2022 while trying to organize.
Alaska and union leaders resumed collective contract negotiations this week.
“I want to be compensated for the time I work and I want a living wage so that you can be independent while working on this job,” said Owens, 35. She said that without her husband’s income, her family would not be able to. to pay for basic needs.
Negotiations in Alaska are closely watched because a single airline contract is often the industry standard. Cabin crews at United Airlines, Frontier and American Airlines’ regional subsidiary PSA Airlines are also negotiating new labor agreements.
Southwest Airlines workers rejected two contracts before securing a deal in April that included a 22% pay increase this year and a 3% annual increase through 2027.
Airline workers have been negotiating with more confidence this year, buoyed by improved airline wages and larger pay deals negotiated by pilot unions over the past two years with Boeing factory workers this year, according to interviews with a dozen airline workers and union officials.
Airline workers told Reuters the talks were also informed by years of resentment over pay falling behind inflation while working hours increased, hurting their quality of life.
Cabinet workers in Alaska and United have authorized their unions to call strikes if negotiators cannot reach a contract agreement.
Alaska Airlines responded to a question from Reuters saying that its goal is to provide “flight attendants — and all employees — with market-competitive wages and benefits.” United did not respond to a request for comment.
BURN UP
In previous contract negotiations, airlines won concessions from workers as the industry struggled due to the recession or collapse due to the COVID pandemic.
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