Las Vegas’ Allegiant ratifies first union contract with attendants

Flight attendants working for Allegiant Air ratified their first union contract with the Las Vegas-based budget carrier, which includes a 33 percent pay raise over the term of the five-year deal, officials announced Thursday.

About 70 percent of voting flight attendants agreed to ratify a labor pact that went into effect Thursday, following six years of bargaining between Allegiant and the Transport Workers Union Local 577.

“The rank and file flight attendants and the TWU leadership were determined to win a solid contract from Allegiant Air,” John Samuelsen, the union’s international president, said in a prepared statement.

“Together, we launched a strategic campaign against the company that bore fruit quickly,” Samuelsen said. “These members should be very proud for standing up to Allegiant and taking control of their own destiny.”

Maury Gallagher, Allegiant’s chairman and CEO, said that reaching an agreement with the flight attendants was “an important milestone.”

Allegiant employs about 1,150 flight attendants, who are poised to receive improved policies for sick leave, vacation, part-time workers and potential mergers, union officials said.

The contract also offers compensation during long delays, increased per diems while on duty, furlough protections, increased training pay and enhanced procedures to file grievances.

Negotiations between flight attendants and Allegiant started in 2011. A tentative agreement failed to win ratification in September 2016, and continued negotiations were supervised by the National Mediation Board, Allegiant officials said.

During the summer, off-duty flight attendants held “informational pickets” at airports across the country to air grievances about Allegiant, including wages that were below the airline industry’s standard. The flight attendants also said they were not paid while waiting for Allegiant planes that were delayed due to scheduling or mechanical problems.

“Our community of flight attendants is at the heart of our operations every day, and their patience through the process of getting to this agreement is most appreciated,” Tracy Tulle, Allegiant’s vice president of in-flight services, said in a prepared statement. “With this contract in place, we look forward to a bright future working together on behalf of our passengers.”

The flight attendants’ contract agreement comes more than one year after Allegiant pilots, working with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, ratified their first labor pact with the company. That five-year deal included an immediate 31 percent pay raise along with improved medical benefits, scheduling procedures and retirement plans.

Earlier this month, Allegiant’s mechanics and related technicians filed a petition to unionize through the Teamsters.

Contact Art Marroquin at amarroquin@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0336. Find @AMarroquin_LV on Twitter.