Five-Year Pact Must Still Be Ratified By Rank-And-File FAs

Alaska Airlines and the Association of Flight Attendants have reached tentative agreement on a new five-year contract for the carrier's 3,300 flight attendants.

"We are delighted to have reached a tentative agreement that recognizes the outstanding contributions of our flight attendants and will provide for enhanced productivity for the future," said Ben Minicucci, Alaska Airlines' executive vice president of operations and chief operating officer. "Our sincere thanks to the negotiating team from the Association of Flight Attendants for their patience and creativity as we worked to resolve issues raised in the prior agreement."

Once the tentative agreement is approved by the union's leadership, Alaska Airlines' flight attendants will conduct a ratification vote that is expected to be completed in December.

"The Association's Negotiating Committee is pleased with the results of the parties' bargaining efforts and we are looking forward to presenting this tentative deal to leadership for approval," said Jeffrey Peterson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants Master Executive Council at Alaska Airlines. "Then it will be up to the membership to determine the next steps in the process."

Under the Railway Labor Act, which governs collective bargaining agreements in the airline industry, contracts do not expire. Instead they become amendable. The prior contract was effective in 2010 and became amendable in May 2012.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.alaskaair.com