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Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants Push for Fair Compensation Amid Negotiations

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Rebecca Owens, a flight attendant with Alaska Airlines, spends around 10 hours daily on the job but is compensated for only half of that time. This discrepancy is a result of a prevalent practice within the U.S. airline industry, which pays cabin crews solely for the time when the aircraft is in motion. Owens, alongside countless colleagues, is advocating for a change in this policy.

In August, an overwhelming 68% of Alaska’s flight attendants voted against a proposed contract that would have raised their average pay by 32% over three years. This contract was notable for being the first to mandate that airlines start paying flight attendants when passengers begin to board, rather than only when flights commence taxiing.

Delta Air Lines, the only major U.S. carrier without unionized flight attendants, initiated a policy in 2022 to pay its cabin crew for boarding at a rate of half their hourly wage, likely as part of an effort to organize its workforce.

Currently, Alaska Airlines and union representatives are engaged in federally mediated negotiations for a new contract.

“I want to be compensated for my time at work and want a livable wage to sustain my family,” expressed the 35-year-old Owens. She noted that without her husband’s income, their family would struggle to meet basic expenses.

The ongoing negotiations at Alaska are drawing significant attention, as the outcomes could set a standard for the airline industry. Flight crews at United Airlines, Frontier, and PSA Airlines, a regional subsidiary of American Airlines, are also in the midst of contract negotiations.

Flight attendants at Southwest Airlines recently approved a deal that included a 22% pay increase this year, followed by 3% annual raises through 2027, after initially rejecting two previous offers.

This year’s negotiations have been marked by increased confidence among flight crews, fueled by strong airline profits and advantageous pay deals secured by pilot unions in recent years, as well as Boeing factory workers. Cabin crew members have expressed frustration over stagnant wages that have failed to keep pace with inflation, all while their work hours have expanded, adversely affecting their quality of life.

Both Alaska Airlines and United crew members have empowered their unions to initiate strikes should an agreement not be reached.

An Alaska Airlines representative stated that the company aims to provide competitive wages and benefits for all employees when responding to inquiries about contract negotiations. United Airlines did not provide a response when asked for comments regarding their negotiations.

Changing Dynamics in Airline Compensation

Historically, airlines have been able to negotiate concessions from workers during times of economic downturn or following the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the current landscape for many U.S. airlines is more favorable, marked by robust profitability, which cabin crews believe justifies their demands for increased pay.

United Airlines’ flight crews have not received a pay raise since 2020, while the airline recently announced a $1.5 billion stock buyback plan. “Flight attendants are really, really angry,” remarked Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), representing over 50,000 cabin crew members across 20 airlines, including Alaska and United. “They can’t afford to pay their bills.”

Some new recruits in the airline industry have resorted to living out of their vehicles due to housing costs surpassing their incomes. At United, a starting flight attendant’s salary is $28.88 per hour, while at Alaska, it stands at $27.69.

For flight attendants, a top priority is the shift in pay structures to reflect hours worked, beyond just when the aircraft is airborne. A United flight attendant from San Francisco reported earning approximately $2,400-$2,500 monthly before taxes despite clocking over 200 working hours. Many colleagues in similar situations often take on supplemental jobs with rideshare companies to make ends meet.

Further illustrating the financial strain, a flight attendant involved in a notable incident on an Alaska Airlines flight had been working as an Amazon delivery driver, demonstrating the multiple jobs many cabin crew members take on.

Airlines have expressed concerns about the financial impact of compensating flight crews for various tasks such as passenger boarding and layover times. However, the union at American Airlines has estimated that flight crews could benefit from an additional $4.2 billion under a new five-year contract that includes retroactive pay, boarding compensation, and additional pay for intermediate hours between flights.

Owens emphasizes the necessity for airlines to reconsider their compensation models or risk facing growing dissatisfaction among crew members. “People can only take so much,” she noted, adding, “They are tired. They are burnt out.”

Source
finance.yahoo.com