Alaska Airlines, IAMAW Reach Tentative Agreement on New Contract for Clerical, Office and Passenger Service Employees

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Dec 14, 2010, 03:00 ET

SEATTLE, Dec. 14, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers today jointly announced tentative agreement on a proposed three-year contract for the carrier's 2,600 clerical, office and passenger service employees.

Among the provisions in the proposed contract are wage increases, job security protections, improved productivity measures, a $1,500 signing bonus and participation in Alaska Airlines' Performance-Based Pay annual incentive plan. Union members will now review the proposed contract and conduct a ratification vote, with results expected near the end of February 2011.

"We're pleased to have reached a tentative agreement that recognizes our employees' outstanding customer service efforts and provides continued job security," said Kelley Dobbs, Alaska Airlines' vice president of human resources and labor relations. "If the proposed contract is ratified, we look forward to having all of our employees in the same annual bonus plan."

Alaska Airlines and the IAMAW have been negotiating on a new contract since March 2010. Collective bargaining agreements in the airline industry do not expire. Instead, they remain in force after the amendable date until a new contract is ratified. Alaska Airlines' current contract with its clerical, office and passenger service employees became amendable on July 19, 2010.

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 reservations, visit alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at alaskaair.com/newsroom.

SOURCE Alaska Airlines