Alaska Airlines and the IAM Tentatively Agree on New Five-Year Contract

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Feb 03, 2014, 12:09 ET

SEATTLE, Feb. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers have reached tentative agreement on a new five-year contract for the carrier's 2,500 clerical, office and passenger service employees.

"It's a tribute to the professionalism of the negotiators for the IAM and Alaska that we agreed on a proposed long-term contract that benefits our employees and the company in such a short amount of time," said Jeff Butler, Alaska Airlines' vice president of customer service – airports and cargo. "I want to thank them for their great work and also give big thanks to all of our IAM members for the exceptional service they provide to our customers every day."

The proposed contract includes pay raises and job security provisions, among other improvements.

"The IAM appreciates the company assigning the appropriate individuals to their bargaining committee, which greatly facilitated these discussions and helped bring about this tentative agreement in short order," said Tom Higginbotham, IAM District 142 president and directing general chairman.

The current three-year contract became amendable on Jan. 1. Results of a ratification vote on the new contract are expected in early April. Contracts in the airline industry do not expire. Once they become amendable, the current contract remains in effect until a new agreement is ratified.

Alaska Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together with its partner regional airlines, serves nearly 100 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines has ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers" in the J.D. Power and Associates North America Airline Satisfaction Study(SM) for six consecutive years from 2008 to 2013. For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines Newsroom at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

SOURCE Alaska Airlines