An arbitrator has ruled that Alaska Airlines violated a union contract by overestimating cost savings when ramp work was outsourced in Seattle...
An arbitrator has ruled that Alaska Airlines violated a union contract by overestimating cost savings when ramp work was outsourced in Seattle in 2005.
The West Coast carrier said in a statement it may appeal the ruling issued today in U.S. District Court. For now, though, labor manager and lawyer Herman Wacker says Alaska Airlines will focus on negotiations for a remedy.
In May 2005, Alaska Airlines outsourced ramp work done by the Machinists union to Menzies Aviation, a private company based in Britain. That work includes loading and unloading baggage and guiding planes into and out of airport gates.
If the company and union can’t agree on a resolution, the case goes back to the arbitrator. Either side can appeal the arbitrator’s findings in federal court.