Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 12:07 PM PDT

Alaska Airlines to pilots: Don't expect big raises
Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle)

In the midst of trying to hammer out a proposed contract in an era of rising fuel prices, Alaska Airlines officials warned its pilots that they shouldn't expect a big raise anytime soon.

"Alaska Airlines ... has the second-highest pilot labor costs in the industry and is not in a position to increase the total cost of its pilot contract at a time of rapidly rising fuel prices and a deteriorating economy," Alaska Airlines said in a Tuesday statement.

Instead, officials at the airline, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) of Seattle, are offering to increase pilots' share of annual profit sharing.

That might not sit will with the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA), which is negotiating with the airline. Earlier this year, pilots said that "any new contract must include a solid raise, protect retirement, and provide job security and quality health benefits."

That "solid raise" might not be forthcoming, according to Alaska Airlines.

"ALPA's proposals to date would burden Alaska Airlines with the highest-cost pilot contract in the industry by a significant margin. That simply doesn't work for our customers, employees and shareholders," Alaska officials said in a statement.


All contents of this site © American City Business Journals Inc. All rights reserved.

 

How are their executives' compensation packages working out for the "customers, employees, and shareholders," I wonder? Are they also a "burden?"

Here's to the Alaska pilots stickin' it to the man.

 

Hmmm no profits = no sharing ? that works out real good

 

Don't settle for anything less than you had pre-9/11 (before the arbitrator gutted your contract).

 

Exactly, how about the mgmt crooks take a pay cut to soften the "burden"

 

Great question. And the answer is these bozos live on a different planet and actually believe that their services are indispensable to their company and mankind in general. Thus the bonuses, golden parachutes, exec perks, etc.

They'll keep their fingers in the jar until the last cookie is gone.

 

I heard the initial offering from management was so small it was insulting. It was so insulting the MEC didn't even feel like posting it.

 

The Alpa e'mail I got said something like...

five year contract,
3% the first year and 1% for the next four years,
No Retro pay;
and in exchange for all of that, The "A" plan would be essentially frozen and all new hires would be put on a Direct Contribution only plan at a significantly reduced rate.

 

You know inflation is 4% right now, don't you?

 

Dont forget that they own their own private island for execs to go vacaton on.