Alaska Airlines flight attendants win tentative contract with historic 32% pay boost

Alaska Airlines flight attendants have a tentative agreement with the airline that could avert a strike or work slowdown. The draft contract boosts pay by 32% and also specifies that flight attendants will be paid for the boarding period before the plane takes off. Currently, they are not paid while passengers board, as wages start when the airplane door gets shut.

The three-year contract must be ratified by the Association of Flight Attendants’ Alaska members, who authorized a strike in February. Negotiations have been going on for 20 months. Before the vote, the association will be doing a “road show” to explain the changes to the voting members.

“After an intense week of negotiating at the National Mediation Board, and the clear deadline we set for the company, we have a Tentative Agreement (TA) for a record contract,” The Association of Flight Attendants said last week.

Flight attendants at Alaska Airlines earn between $42,000 and $74,000 a year, with an average of $56,000.

Alaska Airlines flight attendants authorize strike: ‘Pay us, or CHAOS!’