Alaska Airlines Pilots Vote To Authorize Strike

Alaska Airlines pilots are close to going on strike.

The Air Line Pilots Association has been trying to get a new contract for Alaska Airlines pilots for three years. It is normal for these contract negotiations to go on for a while, but three years is a long time.

The Pandemic has taken a lot of bargaining power away from frontline employees. The unions are pushing harder for new contracts with the airlines looking better.

In April, the union leadership voted unanimously to conduct a strike-authorization ballot among pilots, because Alaska Airlines pilots weren't making much progress at the bargaining table.

The pilots sent a clear message after the balloting finished. 99% of the pilots voted in favor of authorizing a strike, and 98% of the pilots cast votes. Over 85% of Alaska Airlines pilots voted to authorize a strike.

Does that mean Alaska Airlines pilots are going on strike?

Alaska Airlines pilots voted in favor of a strike-authorization, but that doesn't mean a strike will happen soon. Alaska Airlines pilots can go on strike if they are allowed to do so.

Alaska Airlines management and the union representing pilots will have to go to the National Mediation Board in order to reach a resolution. If the process fails, a strike would be allowed. There is a 30-day cooling off period before a strike can occur.

We haven't seen a strike in over a decade at airlines in the United States. It isn't saying that it couldn't happen in the future. Alaska Airlines has been struggling with their performance. I would think that pilots don't feel very incentivized to work more than is required by their contract, even though that isn't officially due to any action on the part of pilots.

Bottom line

Alaska Airlines pilots overwhelmingly voted in favor of authorizing a strike, which is the latest move intended to bring an end to the labor dispute between management and the union. The two parties will go to mediation to try and resolve the issue.

We could see a strike after a 30-day cooling off period if it isn't resolved. I think this will be resolved in mediation, but who knows. Alaska Airlines has historically had some of the better labor relations among US airlines, but that seems to have soured.

Do you think the Alaska Airlines pilots will go on strike?

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