Airline Workers Seek Mediation

Sat., July 3, 1999

From Staff

Clerical workers at Alaska Airlines sought federal mediation after they failed to reach an agreement on pay raises with the airline.

Negotiators from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers - which represents 3,270 Alaska reservation and customer-service agents - met with airline officials for 12 hours Wednesday to exchange pay proposals.

Shortly before midnight, the union rejected the airline’s final offer and broke off talks. It asked the National Mediation Board, which oversees labor relations in the airline industry, to formally oversee the talks.

The company offered decent wage increases to workers at the top of the scale but not to some workers with little seniority, union officials said.

Alaska Airlines contends its salaries that would rank at least sixth among the top ten U.S. carriers.

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Airline Workers Seek Mediation

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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