< Reveal sidebar

Sun Country, Teamsters Agree to 22% Raises for Flight Attendants

The deal will deliver raises, extra retirement benefits and add protections for nearly 800 flight attendants.

A Sun Country 737 in Los Angeles (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Sun Country Airlines and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) recently announced they reached an agreement for a tentative contract covering nearly 800 flight attendants at the carrier.

According to a Thursday news release from the labor group, the tentative agreement includes an average wage increase of nearly 22%, along with increased contributions to Teamster retirement plans and added language to protect flight attendants who are scheduled to work during holidays.

Sun Country flight attendants will participate in a ratification vote for the tentative agreement by the end of February.

Contract negotiations between Teamsters Local 120 and the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based carrier began in 2019 and entered federal mediation in December 2023. Last August, Teamsters voted by a 99 percent margin to authorize a strike against Sun Country if negotiations continued into this year.

“Sun Country Teamsters were united and determined to fight for the contract they deserve,” said Tom Erickson, Local 120 president and international vice president for the Teamsters central region, in the release. “This tentative agreement is a testament to our members’ hard work and dedication. All Sun Country Teamsters should be proud to support this contract offer.”

Chris Griswold, Teamsters airline division director, congratulated Sun Country Teamsters in a news release statement.

“This is a major step towards winning the contract our members deserve,” he said. “For years, Sun Country has treated employees as cheap and temporary labor. Sun Country Teamsters have now broken that cycle.”

In another news release from Sun Country, Chief Operating Officer Greg Mays said the carrier has “tremendous respect and appreciation” for its flight attendants.

“This Agreement in Principle reflects the important role they play in keeping our passengers safe and delivering on Sun Country’s promise of a friendly, hassle-free travel experience,” he said. “I also want to thank the IBT Negotiating Committee for their hard work and collaboration in reaching this agreement.”

AirlineGeeks.com Staff
Latest posts by AirlineGeeks.com Staff (see all)

Author

  • Caleb Revill is a journalist, writer and lifelong learner working as a Junior Writer for Firecrown. When he isn't tackling breaking news, Caleb is on the lookout for fascinating feature stories. Every person has a story to tell, and Caleb wants to help share them! He can be contacted by email anytime at [email protected].

    View all posts

Subscribe to AirlineGeeks' Daily Check-In

Receive a daily dose of the airline industry's top stories along with market insights right in your inbox.

Related Stories

What to Expect During Flight Attendant Training

Becoming a flight attendant is among the most exciting things people can do in the aviation world, and doing so…

36-Year Flight Attendant Killed in ‘Senseless Crime’

American Airlines flight attendant Celinda Levno was killed Saturday night during a Denver layover. The Association of Professional Flight Attendants…

Flight Attendant Dies One Week After Emergency Landing

A week after an emergency landing of a SWISS flight sent a flight attendant to the hospital, SWISS confirmed that…