Alaska Airlines IAM Workers Win One

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/Channels/Story.aspx?ID=1327374

12/14/2010

In a time when airlines are gutting unions and employee contracts, workers at Alaska Airlines came out on top. Jesse Russell reports:

The new proposed contract between Alaska Airlines and clerical, office, and passenger service employees represented by the International Association of Machinists is likely to be approved by members based on the quality. The new three-year contract will see a $1,500 signing bonus, raises, expanded job security protections, and entry into the airlines performance-based pay annual incentive plan. On top of that workers won't see increases in health care. The contract also offers some workers the option of telecommuting if they can perform their work at home. In a statement Alaska Airlines vice president of human resources said the agreement reflects the outstanding customer service effortsî of employees. The two sides have been in negotiations since March of 2010.