Anchorage, Alaska – In a historic move, flight attendants with Alaska Airlines have voted to authorize a strike for the first time in over 30 years. This decision comes as tensions rise over a decade-long contract dispute and concerns regarding pay inequality within the company. More than 60 flight attendants gathered outside the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport to protest for better pay as the news of the strike vote emerged.
The vote does not guarantee a strike, but it significantly escalates the ongoing efforts by the attendants to negotiate a new contract with the airline. According to the attendants, while pilots have received substantial pay increases, many flight attendants struggle to make a livable wage. The negotiations have been ongoing for over a year, prompting multiple protests outside the Anchorage airport and other airports across the country.
Support for the flight attendants’ cause extended to 30 airports in three countries, with 24 airlines’ flight attendants participating in the demonstration. Alaska Airlines, however, stated that progress is being made in the negotiations, expressing optimism about reaching a resolution soon.
The current dispute is occurring against the backdrop of disrupted flight schedules following an incident in which part of a Boeing 737 Max 9 airplane’s fuselage blew off midflight. Despite the airline’s plans to acquire Hawaiian Airlines and its reported profits, flight attendants argue that they have not received reasonable pay increases, with first-year attendants earning less than $24,000 annually.
The union representing the flight attendants stated that more than 5,900 attendants voted 99% in favor of a strike, with preparations underway for the National Mediation Board to intervene. The last time Alaska Air flight attendants went on strike was in 1993, with the union employing a “Create Havoc Around Our System” (CHAOS) strategy to make their grievances known.
The potential for a strike, while concerning for passengers and the airline industry, underscores the unresolved issue of pay inequality within the aviation sector. As negotiations continue, the airline and the flight attendants remain at a critical juncture, with the prospect of a strike influencing the future of labor relations within the company.