At the moment, we’re seeing flight attendants at most major US airlines trying to ratify new contracts (except at Delta, where flight attendants aren’t unionized). Flight attendants largely haven’t had pay increases since before the pandemic, and are looking for significant raises, to reflect the inflation we’ve seen in recent years.
Back in April 2024, Southwest flight attendants became the first to ratify a new contract, and it’s probably the richest flight attendant contract we’ve ever seen, in terms of wage increases, retroactive pay, and more.
In June 2024, it was announced that Alaska flight attendants had an agreement on a tentative contract as well. For the past several weeks, flight attendants have been voting on the new contract, and the results are now in — the contract has been rejected.
Let’s first cover the details of the tentative agreement, and then talk about the vote against it.
In this post:
Details of tentative contract for Alaska flight attendants
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents Alaska’s flight attendants, had reached a tentative agreement with Alaska management for a “record contract,” as the union described it.
The union stated that this tentative agreement had been reached with the help of the National Mediation Board (NMB). In the middle of June, negotiations took place in Washington, with AFA International President Sara Nelson and AFA General Counsel in attendance, along with Alaska Chief Operating Officer Constance von Muehlen.
Per the details of the proposed contract, flight attendants would receive an average pay raise of 32% in the long run. This would include an immediate hourly pay bump of 18%, plus 3% pay increases in the two subsequent years. Flight attendants would also receive boarding pay, plus retroactive pay going back as far as late 2022.
Below you can find the proposed Alaska flight attendant pay scale, showing the current pay, plus the pay after the first raise, second raise, and third raise.
Having a tentative contract at all was already big progress. Back in February 2024, Alaska flight attendants voted to authorize a strike, with 99.48% of participants voting in favor of a strike (and 93.47% of flight attendants participating in the vote).
Flight attendants had the chance to cast their vote for the new contract between July 24 and August 14, 2024.
68% of Alaska flight attendants vote against contract
When I wrote about the tentative contract several weeks ago, I speculated that flight attendants would end up rejecting it… and that’s exactly what has happened. With voting having now closed, 92.4% of flight attendants participated in the vote, and 68% of those flight attendants voted against the new contract.
When I looked at union webpages about the new contract at the time, the feedback from flight attendants was almost exclusively negative. The feedback seemed to fit into one of two categories:
- Never vote “yes” on the first contract proposal
- Members couldn’t believe they were being presented with this contract, as they expected more
For what it’s worth, at the time the union presented the below industry pay comparison chart. As you can see, Southwest flight attendants would still have higher hourly pay than Alaska flight attendants, but with boarding pay, some Alaska flight attendants would be paid more.
This is tricky, because Alaska flight attendants argue that their bases are in some of the highest cost cities in the United States, which is true. However, historically Alaska hasn’t exactly had the best pay in the industry. The airline has paid much better than ultra low cost carriers, but not consistently to the same level as carriers like Southwest.
Alaska flight attendants obviously want industry leading pay, which I can’t fault them for — who doesn’t? But that’s not what the airline was historically going for, so I’m curious how this all plays out.
American flight attendants are also now voting on a tentative contract, and I can’t help but wonder if it will have the same fate.
Bottom line
For the past several weeks, Alaska flight attendants have been voting on a tentative contract. This tentative agreement included an immediate 18% pay increase, and 3% pay increases in subsequent years. There’s also boarding pay, plus retroactive pay.
Now that voting has concluded, we know the results — flight attendants have rejected the new contract, with 32% voting in favor, and 68% voting against.
I can’t say I’m surprised — while the new contract would’ve offered competitive pay rates, it wouldn’t have offered industry leading pay rates, and clearly that’s what Alaska flight attendants want.
What do you make of Alaska flight attendants rejecting their new contract?
The CEO of Alaska makes $10 Million per year plus Bonuses. Because of the Fair Labor Standards Act and greed, he gets to treat his critical front line safety workers (Flight Attendants) who are crucial to Alaska’s success and profits, like serfs and greatly underpaid workers. They, typically on a 6 hour flying day must put in 12 -14 hours which means more hours unpaid than paid. This low pay in a stressful and ESSENTIAL...
The CEO of Alaska makes $10 Million per year plus Bonuses. Because of the Fair Labor Standards Act and greed, he gets to treat his critical front line safety workers (Flight Attendants) who are crucial to Alaska’s success and profits, like serfs and greatly underpaid workers. They, typically on a 6 hour flying day must put in 12 -14 hours which means more hours unpaid than paid. This low pay in a stressful and ESSENTIAL JOB, literally puts these brave Fight Attendants in economic as well as medical and mental health danger!! As an Alaska Flyer I find this reprehensible. Give them a reasonable contract so your customers won’t feel ashamed to fly on Alaska.
Very Truly yours, Hank Thierry
So let me get this straight, with boarding pay they would be industry leading? And they are choosing to work at their current rate and not the increased rate with retro. If I was the company I would offer them a low pay rate for being so brazen!
I wish we knew how senior vs junior flight attendants voted. The juniors will be at risk in the event of a downturn/down-sizing. The most senior attendants are in a stronger and relatively safe position.
Bad idea. Airline travel demand is about to wane.
IMO, the FAs are "overplaying" their hand:
1. In terms of a strike threat, that's off the table. They'll have to go months of "new" negotiations before a mediator will consider releasing the airline / FAs from negotiation. In the meantime, the FAs will still be working at old wages
2. If the economic "boom" is over for the airlines (i.e. - the overcapacity warnings), the window for getting a lucrative contract closes.
As usual the MAGA variety of union busting weirdos appear in the comments here.
As usual, the Socialist variety of business busting weirdos appear in the comments here.
Not MAGA here. This union and Alaska flight attendants seem very out of touch with reality. You can't be presented with an industry leading compensation package and then threaten to go somewhere else because you want more. Well, you can, but it's just brainless. They literally cannot make more income by going to any other airline. It's a terribly transparent bluff.
" never vote yes on the first offer" This is faulty wisdom. Consider your circumstances carefully. Market forecasting is not as simple as it was. The travel industry is capricious in the best of times. Which these are not.
The proposed contract for Alaska flight attendants is a testament to effective negotiation. A 32% raise and retroactive pay ensure that their hard work is finally being recognized
It's only effective if it works out. Negotiations can get worse if Alaska feels the asks/demands are not in good faith. Which, frankly, other than the boarding pay the rest seems out of touch with reality.
Alaska isn't the #1 carrier in the country, yet they want to be paid like it. In terms of profit, Alaska isn't even in the top 10 and Delta, Southwest, United and American are. They could head on...
It's only effective if it works out. Negotiations can get worse if Alaska feels the asks/demands are not in good faith. Which, frankly, other than the boarding pay the rest seems out of touch with reality.
Alaska isn't the #1 carrier in the country, yet they want to be paid like it. In terms of profit, Alaska isn't even in the top 10 and Delta, Southwest, United and American are. They could head on over to any other airline....oh wait, they'll be paid less. On second thought, maybe Alaska isn't as bad as it seems is what I'd guess these attendants would be saying to themselves.
Can’t wait for all these airlines to file chapter 11 thanks to greedy unions manipulating their members into thinking they are entitled to more. If you think you are ‘worth’ more than a company is paying you, go somewhere else. We are long past the days where unions made our society better.
You think the Boardrooms of Business have made our lives better instead?
Who do you think is paying for these flight attendant increases, Ronnie?
It’s the consumers. There are plenty of imperfect boards, but unions forcing consumers to pay more for work that can be done with around 2-3 weeks of training? No. That isn’t good for consumers.
Yes
Under that proposed contract, they can't even go anywhere else that would pay them better overall. Any threat to leave is laughable because they literally could not go to any other airline and be paid more than that contract offer.
It's one thing if you can point at a number of competitors and say you'll go there for better pay. It's quite another to have an offer that represents a new industry standard and...
Under that proposed contract, they can't even go anywhere else that would pay them better overall. Any threat to leave is laughable because they literally could not go to any other airline and be paid more than that contract offer.
It's one thing if you can point at a number of competitors and say you'll go there for better pay. It's quite another to have an offer that represents a new industry standard and threaten to leave to.....go make less? This union doesn't appear to have any brains behind the wheel.