Alaska Airlines pilots, who are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), have decided to approve a strike if negotiations with management fail.
After three years of fruitless negotiations with management to negotiate a contract deal, union officials unanimously decided to hold a strike authorization vote among their pilots.
The vote to authorize the strike began on May 9, 2022, and ended on May 25, 2022.
According to ALPA, an “overwhelming” 99 percent of Alaska Airlines pilots have approved union leaders to conduct a strike if necessary and if the National Mediation Board (NMB) grants approval.
Alaska Airlines pilots vote overwhelmingly to authorize a strike after three years of negotiations and pledge to walk if talks fail.#AlaskaAirlines #DoTheRightThing
Press release:https://t.co/p7o5e8Ajzw pic.twitter.com/pfhucvcXl1— Alaska Airlines Pilots (@AlaskaPilots) May 25, 2022
“For three years, Alaska pilots have been resolved in their commitment to reach a new agreement, and today, we spoke with one unified voice, just like we did with our recent informational picketing event,” chairman of the Alaska Airlines ALPA Master Executive Council Will McQuillen said in a statement.
“For years, we have been working toward a market-based contract with reasonable solutions that address work rules, scheduling flexibility, and career-security issues that pilots at other companies enjoy, not a strike. Now is the time for management to respond and engage constructively at the bargaining table.”
According to ALPA, before a strike can be called, the NMB must first determine that further mediation efforts between the union and management would be futile.
The NBM will also give the parties the option of having the contract dispute arbitrated. If either party rejects arbitration, both parties enter a 30-day “cooling off” period, after which one of two things can happen: a union strike or a management lockout.
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