Alaska Airlines ground staff reach new pay deal

Some 5.300 Alaska Airlines workers represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) trade union voted to ratify a labour contract described as «industry-leading» by staff representatives.

The airline said its airport customer service agents, reservation management agents, stores, cargo and ground handling staff ratified a contract extension previously agreed with the company’s management. This agreement will run until September 27th, 2026.

The confirmation and improvement of contract conditions for the company’s ground workers comes against a backdrop of widespread staff shortages in the aviation industry, a situation that has forced changes and cuts in the schedules of many airlines. The situation is fuelling pressure from unions in the negotiation process for wage and contract improvements.

Days ago, Lufthansa ground staff agreed to a substantial pay rise, a week after a strike forced the German airline to cancel more than a thousand flights.

Main agreements in the ratified contract

• Raises base wage rates for all classifications to between 8.9% and 17.4% as of tomorrow, August 10th.
• Further raises all base wages rates for all classifications by 2.5% as of August 10th, 2023. The same increase is planned for the following two years, although the amount will be reviewed in due course.
• Longevity pay increases starting after sixth year at 5 cents per hour, and topping out after twelfth year and beyond at 35 cents per hour
• No changes to existing medical benefit.

«I am glad we were able to reach an agreement that improves our employees’ quality of life and is good for our company’s long-term success», said Jenny Wetzel, Alaska Airlines’ vice president of Labour Relations, said in a statement. «We are all very proud of this new agreement» she assured.

See also: Alaska Airlines to make its largest investment in SAF as of 2026