Despite having agreed the contact back in August, Virgin America flight attendants have voted to reject the first contract offer negotiated by the Transport Workers Union (TWU) 490-415. The result has thrown the labour plans for the airline into disarray. Complicating the issue, is that the flight attendants will be represented by a different union, the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), after the airline’s merger with Alaska Airlines is fully completed.
The rejected contract would have provided an immediate 7.5% pay increase, a signing bonus and further pay rises after the completion of the merger.
Until a deal can be finalized, the employees of the two airlines will have to operate separately, with separate pay rates and seniority status. Currently, Alaskan Airlines flight attendants have higher pay than Virgin America’s.