KATU Portland Or, News on filing for Federal Mediation

Horizon Air flight attendants seek federal mediation for contract negotiations

by Bobby Corser

Tue, January 21st 2025 at 1:28 PM

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FILE - An Alaska Airlines jet at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). (KOMO News file photo)

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Flight Attendants at Horizon Air have filed for federal mediation in their quest for a new contract.

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“Flight Attendants at Horizon Air and in the regional airlines deserve fair compensation,” said Horizon AFA President Lisa Davis-Warren. “The company needs to recognize the contributions we have made to its continued growth. We are hopeful that with the help of a federal mediator we will work with urgency to get the pay, benefits, and scheduling provisions we have earned.”

Alaska Airlines owns Horizon Air and controls the pay and working conditions at Horizon, union officials said.

The union claims that the Horizon Flight Attendants provide the same service as the Flight Attendants who work for Alaska Airlines but make less money.

“Management has so far failed to offer meaningful pay increases for all Flight Attendants in the workgroup. Instead of raising the standards for regional Flight Attendants, management is content to maintain a two-tiered exploitative “regional airline” business model that leaves regional Flight Attendants behind,” the union said in a statement.

Horizon Airlines told KATU News that filing for mediation is just one step in the process. They sent us the following statement.
 

"AFA at Horizon Air filed for mediation on January 17 with the National Mediation Board (NMB). Either or both parties in contract negotiations may request mediation and is one of many steps in the Section 6 process under the Railway Labor Act. If the NMB determines mediation will aid the negotiation process, it will assign a federal mediator. We remain dedicated to the negotiation process and believe mediation can be a valuable tool in having a neutral third party provide perspective and guidance to help us reach a beneficial agreement for Horizon Air flight attendants and Horizon Air."