Alaska Airlines' philosophy is to provide employees market-based compensation. More than 80 percent of Alaska's workforce is covered by collective bargaining agreements.

Contract negotiations in the commercial airline industry are governed by the Railway Labor Act (RLA), which Congress passed in 1926. The RLA seeks to avoid interruptions in interstate commerce by setting clear guidelines for labor negotiations at railroads and airlines. The act also established the National Mediation Board as the federal body charged with oversight of labor negotiations.

Under the RLA, airline labor contracts never expire. Instead, each contract has an amendable date when the union and the company have the option to amend the contract.

To respect the bargaining process, the airline provides limited information on the status of ongoing labor negotiations.

Clerical, office and passenger service employees (COPS)

Alaska Airlines' 2,660 customer service agents, reservations agents and accounting specialists are represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW). These employees ratified a new four-year contract on Feb. 1, 2011. This contract becomes amendable Jan. 1, 2014.

Flight attendants

Alaska Airlines' 2,774 flight attendants are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA). These employees ratified a two-year contract extension March 10, 2009. This contract becomes amendable May 1, 2012.

Pilots

Alaska Airlines' 1,416 pilots are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). A new four-year contract was ratified on May 19, 2009, and becomes amendable April 1, 2013.

Aircraft technicians, cleaners and fleet service employees

Alaska Airlines' 630 aircraft technicians, cleaners and fleet-service employees are represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA). Negotiations for contract amendments began in December of 2010 and are currently ongoing. The current contract is not amendable until Oct. 17, 2011.

Ramp service and stores agents

Alaska Airlines' 637 ramp-service and stores agents are represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW). These employees ratified a new two-year contract extension on December 17, 2009. This extends the contract through July 2012.

Dispatchers

Alaska Airlines' 36 dispatchers are represented by the Transport Workers Union (TWU). These employees ratified a new our-year contract on May 4, 2011. The ratified agreement becomes amendable on March 24, 2015.