Alaska Airlines, Flight Attendants Union Achieve 'Record' Tentative Labor Agreement

By Madz Dizon

Jun 22 2024, 02:01 AM EDT

Alaska Airlines, Flight Attendants Union Achieve 'Record' Tentative Labor Agreement — An Alaska airlines Boeing 737 is taking off from Los Angeles International AirPort (LAX) in Los Angeles, California, on March 6, 2024. DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images

The flight attendants union of Alaska Airlines announced on Friday (June 21) that they have successfully reached a tentative labor agreement with the carrier.

This deal marks a significant milestone, putting an end to the prolonged period without new contracts for cabin crews who have long been advocating for salary increases.

Alaska Airlines and Flight Attendants Union Reach Tentative Agreement

The specifics of the agreement, reached with the assistance of federal mediation, were not immediately disclosed. The Association of Flight Attendants stated that the review process will involve union leadership and a subsequent vote by rank and file members.

Just one day prior, the flight attendants union of American Airlines announced that negotiations for a new contract had reached an impasse, advising its members to be ready for the potential of a strike.

According to a company spokesperson, there has been significant progress in negotiations this week, further strengthening the already impressive proposal that has been on the table for months.

United Airlines is currently in discussions for a new contract with its flight attendants union. It is highly unusual to see strikes occurring in the US airline industry. If an agreement cannot be reached, there is a potential for a 30-day period of reflection before the possibility of a work stoppage, according to NBC Miami.

Prolonged Negotiations

Several Wall Street analysts have also expressed concerns about the prolonged negotiations between American Airlines and its flight attendants. United Airlines and Alaska Airlines are currently engaged in flight attendant contract negotiations.

Despite being released from negotiations by the National Mediation Board, flight attendants may face a prolonged wait before they can go on strike. This delay is attributed to certain provisions outlined in the Railway Labor Act.

Earlier this month, flight attendants from an American airline declined a 17% wage increase, stating their preference for a contract before accepting any changes to their pay, Skift reported.