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SEATTLE (AP) — A union has reached an agreement with Alaska Airlines for a two-year contract extension that includes substantial raises for 5,300 gate agents, store and office workers, as well as workers in ramp that load the freight.
Seattle weather reports the deal announced Wednesday does not cover a separate group of about 2,000 ramp workers, also represented by the International Association of Machinists, who work for the McGee Air Services subsidiary and handle baggage on passenger flights.
Richard Johnsen, IAM’s general vice president responsible for airline workers, said in an interview that the deal will make this group of Alaska Airlines employees “the highest-paid employees of all these classifications for the entire airline industry”.
In a statement, Alaska Chief Operating Officer Constance von Muehlen called the agreement “a significant investment in the company’s customer service, stores, freight, ground service and reservations agents.” ‘Alaska Airlines Airport’.
The Seattle-based airline is still involved in larger contract negotiations with its pilots’ union, the Air Line Pilots Association, which represents about 3,000 pilots.
If the contract extension to 2026 is ratified by a vote of IAM members in Alaska, they will get raises on August 10 ranging from 8.9% to 17.4%, followed by the next three years of raises by at least 2.5% — and a guarantee that the increase will at least match that of the fourth-largest US airline.
Johnsen said the deal means new hires will start at more than $18 an hour, while top pay will increase to $34 an hour.
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