Alaska Airlines' Clerical, Office and Passenger Service Employees Ratify Three-Year Contract

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Jan 31, 2011, 05:42 ET

SEATTLE, Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines announced today that the carrier's 2,600 clerical, office and passenger service employees have ratified a new three-year contract by more than 90 percent of union members who voted.

The new contract with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers includes wage increases, a signing bonus, job security protections, improved productivity measures, and participation in Alaska Airlines' Performance-Based Pay annual incentive plan.

"This contract will place our membership at Alaska near the top of airline industry pay and benefits, along with long-term job security, while meeting the long-term business plan of Alaska Airlines," said Stephen M. Gordon, president and directing general chair of District 143.

"We're pleased to have a ratified contract that was developed through a collaborative effort between the negotiating teams," said Kelley Dobbs, Alaska Airlines' vice president of human resources and labor relations. "And I'm delighted that everyone at Alaska now participates in the same annual incentive program, which will pay more than a month's wages to each employee for their work in 2010, including our IAM members."

Alaska Airlines and the IAM began negotiating on a new contract in March 2010 and reached tentative agreement in December.

The IAM is the largest airline union in North America, representing more than 100,000 airline workers. More information about the IAM is available at www.goiam.org.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together serve more than 90 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008, 2009 and 2010 North America Airline Satisfaction Studies(SM). For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at alaskaair.com/newsroom.

SOURCE Alaska Airlines