Flight attendants at Alaska Airlines, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), have voted against ratifying a tentative agreement that was reached after nearly two years of negotiations. The vote, which concluded on Aug. 14, 2024, saw a participation rate of 92.4% among eligible voters, with 68% voting against the agreement and 32% in favor, the AFA said.
The tentative agreement (TA), announced in late June, was heralded as a record contract that would have provided an average pay bump of 32% over three years, alongside other benefits like compensation for boarding time, marking a first among AFA-represented flight attendant groups.
AFA President Sara Nelson touted the new agreement in an interview with Forbes, adding, “We were able to get Alaska to lead the industry, something they would never do in the past.”
The rejection comes amidst a backdrop of intense labor negotiations across the airline industry, where flight attendants have been pushing for better wages, working conditions, and benefits. Earlier in the year, Alaska’s flight attendants had overwhelmingly authorized a strike.
“This is our union democracy in action. This is our contract, and we will fight to address membership concerns as expeditiously as possible,” the union said in a press release on Thursday.
