SEATTLE –Today, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), officially began negotiations for a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) with Alaska Airlines management. This agreement, once negotiated and ratified, will bring both pilot groups together under a single contract, following Alaska Airlines’ merger with Hawaiian Airlines last year. The Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines pilot groups are currently represented by the Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council (ALA MEC) and the Hawaiian Airlines Master Executive Council (HAL MEC), respectively.
“Since the merger announcement, our Joint Negotiating Committee, with the direction of both Master Executive Councils, has been working to ensure that this negotiation process results in the right deal—one that aligns with the pilots’ priorities and recognizes their value and contributions to this new airline’s future success,” said Capt. Will McQuillen, Alaska Airlines MEC chair. “We will only ratify an agreement that truly reflects what our pilots have earned and deserve.”
“Hawaiian Airlines pilots have a long history of excellence, and united with the Alaska Airlines pilots, we are focused on securing a contract that protects our careers and future,” said Capt. Larry Payne, Hawaiian Airlines MEC chair. “This merger is an opportunity to build a stronger airline, but it must start with a fair and equitable agreement for all our pilots.”
On September 18, 2024, Alaska Air Group finalized the merger transaction between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. This brings together two respected carriers with strong operational histories. Throughout the integration process, both pilot groups have remained committed to maintaining a collaborative relationship that ensures a smooth transition. Once the JCBA negotiations are complete, the Tentative Agreement (TA) will be submitted for approval by both MECs, followed by a ratification vote by both the Alaska and Hawaiian pilots.
Once the JCBA is ratified, this will set the stage for the next phase of the merger process, when the MECs’ respective Merger Committees will begin integrating the two seniority lists. Following the implementation of an Integrated Seniority List (ISL), Alaska and Hawaiian pilots will become one unified pilot group and form a single MEC. The Alaska Airlines MEC represents over 3,300 pilots, while the Hawaiian Airlines MEC represents more than 1,100 pilots.
Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 79,000 pilots at 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit ALPA.org or follow us on Twitter @ALPAPilots.
