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United States airline flight crews positive and upset as unions look for richer agreements

Alaska Airlines flight attendant Rebecca Owens works 10 hours a day but just makes money for half that time a legacy of a typical U.S. airline company policy to pay cabin team members only when airplanes are in movement. Owens, and thousands of cabin crew like her, wants that to modification.

In August, 68% of Alaska flight attendants in a ratification vote turned down an agreement that would have increased average pay by 32% over three years. It was also the very first labor arrangement that would have lawfully needed airline companies to begin the clock for paying flight attendants when guests are boarding, not when the flight begins to taxi down the runway.

Delta Air Lines, the only significant U.S. airline company whose flight attendants are not in a union, instituted boarding pay for its flight attendants at half of their hourly salaries in 2022 when they were attempting to organize.

Alaska and union leaders have actually resumed federally moderated contract settlements today.

I want to be made up for my time at work and want a. livable wage so that you can base on your own while working. this job, said Owens, 35. She said that without her other half's. earnings, her family would not be able to pay for basic requirements.

Negotiations at Alaska are being carefully enjoyed because one. airline company's contract tends to end up being an industry benchmark. Cabin. teams at United Airlines, Frontier and American. Airlines' regional subsidiary PSA Airlines are likewise. working out brand-new labor contracts.

Crews at Southwest Airlines rejected two contract. offers before ratifying a deal in April that consisted of a 22% pay. raise this year and 3% per year raises through 2027.

Flight attendants have actually been working out with more self-confidence. this year, encouraged by improved airline profits and bumper. pay offers worked out by pilot unions in the past 2 years and. Boeing factory workers this year, according to interviews with a. dozen airline crew and union officials.

Airplane team told Reuters these settlements are also notified. by years of resentment over pay that has actually lagged inflation while. working hours have increased, hurting their quality of life.

Cabin crew at Alaska and United have authorized their. unions to call strikes if negotiators can not reach a contract. arrangement.

Alaska Airlines reacted to a question from Reuters stating. its goal is to provide flight attendants-- and all employees--. with market-competitive salaries and advantages.

United did not respond to an ask for remark.

BURN OUT

In previous contract settlements, airlines secured. concessions from workers as the market was struggling due to. financial declines or fallout from the COVID pandemic.

However, this year, numerous U.S. airlines have posted healthy. revenues and cabin teams feel they have actually more than made a larger. piece of that pie.

United's cabin teams have not had a raise since 2020. The Chicago-based airline in October unveiled a $1.5 billion. stock buyback strategy.

Flight attendants are truly, truly angry, stated Sara. Nelson, global president of the Association of Flight. Attendants-CWA (AFA), which represents over 50,000 cabin team at. 20 airline companies including Alaska and United.

They can't pay for to pay their costs.

Some brand-new hires are forced to live in their cars due to the fact that they. can not manage lease, said Ken Diaz, head of the flight. attendants' union at United.

A beginning salary at United is $28.88 an hour. At Alaska,. the base pay rate for a newly worked with flight attendant is $27.69. High on the top priority list for attendants is being paid for hours. worked, not just when the airplane remains in movement.

One San Francisco-based United flight attendant informed Reuters. he makes simply $2,400-$ 2,500 a month before taxes regardless of working. over 200 hours. A number of his associates supplement their. income by driving for Uber and DoorDash, he stated.

A flight attendant who was onboard Alaska's Boeing 737 MAX. aircraft that lost its door panel mid-air in January had a second. job as an Amazon delivery chauffeur, according to testament. launched by private investigators. The flight attendant, who was not. called, had worked two package-delivery shifts the day of the. door blowout.

Some airline companies blanch at the added expenses of paying flight. crews for jobs like boarding passengers and lingering the. airport before and in between flights. The union at American has. estimated that crews will make an extra $4.2 billion under its. brand-new five-year flight attendant contract, that includes. retroactive along with boarding pay, and compensation for some. hours between flights.

Owen says airline companies require to reconsider their strategy or face an. progressively hostile response from team members.

Individuals can just take so much, Owens stated. They are tired. They are burnt out..

(source: Reuters)