The Alaska Airlines Air Line Pilots Association’s (ALPA's) Master Executive Council (MEC) voted on April 22, 2022, in a 11 to 0 vote to authorize a strike authorization vote and declared the result. The vote to give the MEC the authority to declare a strike was authorized after an informational picket on April 1, with attendance and enthusiasm beyond the MEC's expectations. The informational picket of employees with time off and some supportive flight attendants had over 1,500 participants, while the Alaska Airlines ALPA union chapter has 3,100 members total. The vote of all 3,100 members to give the leadership the ability to declare a strike only after all means of contract negotiation are exhausted runs from May 9 until May 25, 2022.

Nowhere near a strike… yet

The Alaska Airlines ALPA Chapter Billboard Near Alaska Airlines HQ
Is this another noble attempt by Alaska Airlines' pilot's union to get attention to their concerns as much as this billboard outside the airline's HQ? Photo: AvgeekJoe Productions

Even if the vote is successful, which is highly likely, the authorization to call a strike is not calling a formal strike to stop carrying out contractually obligated duties. It's rather a form of escalatory picketing as much as the above billboard and the April 1, 2022, informational picket of off-duty Alaska Airlines' employees and allies.

As per a recent Simple Flying analysis, the federal mediator Mike Tosi has to recommend to his National Mediation Board (NMB) bosses that there is an impasse between Alaska Airlines' ALPA chapter and the airline's management, which is currently not the case. The NMB has to agree. Then there has to be a thirty (30) day cooling-off period, but there is a last chance to stop "self-help" efforts or strikes, lockouts, and more by parties in the labor dispute.

A Presidential Emergency Board can be convened

See according to the National Mediation Board,

The President may create an emergency board to investigate and report on a dispute over the terms of a collective bargaining agreement. Under the Railway Labor Act, the President may exercise his discretion to create an emergency board when the labor dispute threatens “substantially to interrupt interstate commerce to a degree such as to deprive any section of the country of essential transportation service.”

Air Force One Lifting Past An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-790 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
The US President can convene a board to influence the Alaska Airlines' pilots labor dispute if the mediator declares an impasse. Photo: AvgeekJoe Productions

If the US President decides to take this action in the event of an impasse, which since Alaska Airlines provides essential transportation service to at least parts of Alaska and Washington States appears to be likely; then the Presidential Emergency Board's activation would trigger a 30-day review of the situation. After that, a new 30-day "cooling off" period would initiate in the hope that both sides can come to an agreement before "self-help" in the form of a strike, management lockout or attempted unilateral imposition of work rules.

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Pilots' union motives

Capt. Will McQuillen, chairman of the Alaska Airlines ALPA MEC, Speaking to media at an Informational Picket
Capt. Will McQuillen, Chairman of the Alaska Airlines ALPA MEC, explains that Alaska Airlines pilots want flexible work schedules, job security, and a successful conclusion to a 3+ year contract negotiation. Photo: Air Line Pilots Association, via Flickr

The Alaska Airlines ALPA MEC Chairman Captain Will McQuillen said on an April 22, 2022 interview with Seattle’s Morning News with Dave Ross and Colleen O’Brien on KIRO FM,

...The biggest thing that we're trying to do is just get the public where they want to go. We are so eager to have the airline right sized so that we can, we can, you know, help the people with Pacific Northwest get where they want to go. We do take great pride in this airline, great pride, and we want them to be successful, but unfortunately, they're struggling right now.

The main issues the Alaska Airlines pilot's union sticking points with management are having flexible schedules, and pilot retention. According to the ALPA press release and the KIRO FM interview, the Alaska Airlines' ALPA chapter also is seeking a contract that will stop the bleed of pilot talent to other airlines. The union also conducts exit interviews with those pilots going to other airlines to see where the issues are and then brings them to management. This is also in the context of an industry pilot shortage.

Although an ALPA spokeswoman kindly let Simple Flying know that public communications between the ALPA chapter and the public will be limited until the votes are counted.

Where do you think this Alaska Airlines' labor dispute with its pilots is headed? Please comment on your thoughts below.

Source: ALPA, KIRO FM, National Mediation Board