Yesterday, August 15, Alaska Airlines flight attendants from all bases picketed nationwide to show airline management that behind demands for improved contracts are employees who genuinely care about their roles and customers, but who are prepared to strike if necessary.

High performing but underpaid flight attendants ready to strike on holidays

Alaska Airlines' flight attendant contract negotiations came to a stall over pay levels and boarding pay at the end of June. Ever since, AFA Alaska, the flight attendant union, has stressed it is unified in its mission to resolve some financial aspects of the contract. According to AFA President Sara Nelson, the union is ready to start the legal process to strike and, if necessary, will strike by the end of the year.

In July, the Alaska Airlines flight attendants picketed, setting up yesterday's pickets and giving flight attendants a chance to voice grievances about pay versus performance. In San Francisco, Supervisor Matt Dorsey attended the picket at San Francisco International Airport, but pickets were also held in Los Angeles, Portland, and San Diego.

Photo: AFA Council 35

To put it lightly, being told they would not get industry-leading pay was hurtful to the flight attendants. Especially as the airline recently won a Newsweek award for customer satisfaction in the US.

Newsweek conducted a survey of 30,000 US customers for the following things:

• Quality of communications
• Professional competence
• Range of services
• Customer focus
• Accessibility

Pay for Alaska Airlines flight attendants is so little that during the first year of employment flight attendants qualify for food stamps, according to LeiLauni Scheideman, president of the Anchorage local Alaska Association of Flight Attendants. Hence, the rejection of Alaska's offer for a 9% pay raise and the request for a 40% increase.

“Taking the fight to the public”

AFA Alaska President Jeffrey Peterson shared the purpose of yesterday's pickets with Simple Flying,

But for AFA National President Sara Nelson, the state of negotiations requires sending a clear message of being ready to strike.

“This picket is about, we're still at the negotiating table with Alaska. They [management] want to keep negotiating, which tells me that they want to do what they want to deal for less than the flight attendants are willing to accept right now. And we're going to make sure that they know that that's not okay. And that's why the flight attendants are out here. They're backing up the demands their negotiators are bringing to the table and making it very clear to management that we're willing to back up those demands with action.”

The airline shared the following statement in response to the pickets,

“The vast majority of our frontline employees are represented by a union, and our union partners make us a stronger company. … We respect their protected right to engage in these activities and do not expect any disruption to our operation or service during flights as a result.”

Can Alaska Airlines afford to meet Alaska AFA's requests?

One should note that on July 26, Alaska Airlines reported a profit of $240 million for 2023’s second quarter. On CNBC, CEO Ben Minicucci thanked the employees for a "fantastic quarter" where Alaska Airlines "led the industry in operational performance" but warned of difficult times ahead.

In response, Alaska AFA President Jeffrey Peterson shared with Simple Flying,

The airline said it offered its flight attendants industry-leading pay, and the offer was denied, with the flight attendants' counter-offer too high for the airline to accept

“Since September 2022, together with AFA we have closed over 50 tentative agreements [agreements in principle/AIP]. In June, we provided an initial economic offer that included industry-leading top of scale wages, but unfortunately, AFA’s counter proposal included cost increases throughout the agreement that just weren’t economically feasible, and we were unable to reach an agreement.

Alaska Airlines reiterated its commitment to agreeing to a new contract but that it must remain productive and sustainable, which is good for the entire Alaska family.

Alaska's flight attendants are working on a contract from 2014, extended twice, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, to help protect the airlines' bottom line. The sentiment in the post below is widely shared among flight attendants.

Most flight attendants in the US and worldwide are not paid for boarding. The clock on 'flight hours' begins when brakes are released and/or an aircraft pushes back. Last year, Delta Air Lines began paying its flight attendants 50% of their flight hour rate for boarding, and flight attendants at other airlines, like Alaska, hope to receive compensation for boarding. Flight attendants do several things before a flight departs, like,

• Check safety equipment
• Prepare galleys (snacks, food, and beverages)
• Greet passengers
• Aid passengers in finding their seats and stowing their carry-ons (for those who ask, as stowing carryons is not a job requirement for most airlines. In fact, most airlines will not compensate a flight attendant who injures themselves during boarding)

Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying

According to the Alaska AFA blog, the boarding pay will be based on time. The matter is a priority for flight attendants nationwide, and the hope is that the new Alaska AFA contract will set a national standard.

What’s next?

Alaska AFA and Alaska Airlines have confirmed that negotiations are scheduled through November. However, AFA’s Sara Nelson made clear the union will seek to enter mediation in September.

Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying

If Alaska Airlines management fails to respect Alaska AFA’s wishes for pay improvements, Nelson believes a release to strike over the 2023 holidays is possible. Any such strike will likely be on random flights, as per the AFA strike strategy.

What are your thoughts on the negotiations? Please share with civility in the comments.

Sources: Anchorage Daily News