Hawaiian Air flight attendants ratify contract

Advertiser Staff

Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants will begin a new contract today that more than doubles the salaries of some employees and significantly increases benefits.

When ballots were counted yesterday, 95 percent of the airline's flight attendants favored the 42-month contract, which will increase wages for the most junior employees by 139 percent, said Sharon Soper, president of Hawaiian's unit of the Association of Flight Attendants.

Most of the airline's 895 flight attendants voted, she said. The agreement being voted on was reached in March.

Newly hired flight attendants could make roughly $13,500 a year under the old contract; the most senior could make about $35,000. They will see 36 percent raises by the end of the contract.

The airline is still negotiating with the International Association of Machinists, its largest union.

In other news, Hawaiian Airlines sealed a three-year renewal of its contract with Renaissance Cruises. Under the $85 million agreement, company officials said, Hawaiian will continue to provide exclusive air service between Los Angeles and Tahiti for Renaissance cruise passengers.