By Rob Stapleton
Alaska Journal of Commerce

Ongoing negotiations between Alaska Airlines and the Air Line Pilots Association took a turn that triggered a demonstration by its pilots and other union members that may eventually lead to a pilots strike.

“If we don't get evidence that management is going to sign a contract after this long open-ended process, then I can guarantee you, on a scale of one to 10, at 10.5, pilots will vote to strike,” said Sean Cassidy, an Alaska Airlines captain and vice chair of the pilot's union executive committee.

Some 400 pilots picketed earlier this month outside the Museum of Flight, where Alaska Air Group shareholders were attending the company's annual meeting, after the pilots received counteroffers on key sections of a proposed contract that had no new concessions on the part of the airline.

Teamster pilots from Horizon Air, pilots from UPS, FedEx, Continental and United Airlines as well as engineers from the Boeing Co. lined up on both sides of East Marginal Way South in Seattle, joining ALPA pilots and flight crews from Alaska Airlines on May 20 for the demonstration.

Alaska Airlines and its 1,470 pilots have been in negotiations for a labor contract since November 2006. Both sides were hopeful for a negotiated agreement by May 1, 2007, when the pilot's previous two-year contract expired.

Since January 2007, ALPA and the company have met nearly every week, often three days a week.

“To resolve our differences, Alaska Airlines has indicated its willingness to continue meeting with ALPA negotiators as often as needed,” the company said in a statement.

Cassidy said the union two months ago submitted an agreement that met all 31 sections of the contract, and Alaska Air Group had not responded until the airline issued a press release on May 20.

“We have been negotiating in good faith for 16 months and it appears that we are not making any progress,” Cassidy said.

ALPA's executive committee has been negotiating with Alaska Air Group officials since January 2007.

According to a press release, Alaska Air Group said the contract sought by the pilots union is too expensive for the airline.

“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,” the release said. “Changing industry economics may affect the company's future proposals.”

But ALPA says Alaska Air Group executives are hiding behind the shaky U.S. economy, and it's impossible to compare their pay with other airline pilots because of the type of flights, duty hours and lengths of the legs of the flights are different from other airline's routes.

ALPA pilots are concerned that they are working off an old agreement while they work to bargain for a better contract in the midst of a changing economic environment.

“While management is in there telling the shareholders that the sky is falling, the company's balance sheet is healthy,” said Cassidy. “Our biggest concern is that during a time with multiple negative economic trends that are driving up costs, they won't sign a contract.”

Cassidy said that for Alaska Air Group to be successful, it will first have to address its labor problems.

“We are dedicated company employees that are proud of the airline, and we believe that it will survive above others, but not at our expense,” said Cassidy. “While we have been working at near-bankruptcy levels of pay agreed to by an arbitrator in 2005, upper management has not approved our contract.”

Rob Stapleton can be reached at rob.stapleton@alaskajournal.com.