10 years ago, Alaska Airlines took low road it’s been traveling ever since

SEATAC (May 13, 2015) — Ten years ago today, Alaska Airlines illegally locked out nearly 500 men and women, many of them with decades of service at the airline. At 3 a.m., Alaska Airlines bused in subcontractor replacements — people paid much lower wages with fewer, if any, benefits, working for Menzies Aviation.

► Turnover among baggage handlers for Alaska Airlines is high; the resulting lack of experience and tarmac training causes safety concerns.

► Since 2005, Alaska Airlines has made more than $2 billion in net profits.

► The move cost King County’s economy at least $115 million, according to a new analysis.

► In response, the voters of Seatac approved a 2013 initiative to raise the wages 4,700 airport workers to $15/hr, causing their own ripple effect.

► Alaska Airlines sued to block Seatac Prop 1, and it now awaits a WA State Supreme Court decision.

► Alaska’s action 10 years ago was mirrored again and again by other airlines. Today many U.S. airport jobs are outsourced to low wage subcontractors.

► This is part of a national trend — economists say more than 1 in 3 baggage handlers and airplane cleaners live in or near poverty. Wages have dropped by nearly 45% of many of these jobs over the last decade.

Short URL: https://www.thestand.org/?p=40279

Posted by David Groves on May 13 2015. Filed under LOCAL. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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