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Alaska Airlines, flight attendants reach ‘record' tentative labor deal

The tentative agreement breaks a drought of new labor contracts for cabin crews.

Daniel Slim | AFP | Getty Images
  • The deal's details, which were struck under federal mediation, weren't immediately made public.
  • United and American Airlines are still negotiating contracts with their flight attendants.
  • American Airlines' flight attendants union said talks had ended on Thursday without a deal and that cabin crews should prepare for a strike.

Alaska Airlines' flight attendants union said Friday that it reached a "record" tentative labor deal with the carrier, ending a drought of new contracts for cabin crews that have clamored for pay raises for years.

The details of the deal, struck under federal mediation, weren't immediately made public. It will be reviewed by union leadership and then voted on by rank and file members, the Association of Flight Attendants said.

"With our combined efforts, we've been able to reach an agreement that provides quality of life and continued career growth at Alaska," the airline said in a statement. 

A day earlier, American Airlines' flight attendants union said talks had broken down for a new contract, and that its members should prepare for a possible strike. However, a company spokeswoman said the two sides had made "good progress in negotiations this week, adding even more to the industry-leading proposal we've had on the table for months."

United Airlines is also negotiating a new contract with its flight attendants union.

Strikes in the U.S. airline industry are extremely rare. If a deal cannot be reached, there could be a 30-day cooling-off period before a possible work stoppage.

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