Posted on: Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Hawaiian Airlines attendants OK pact

By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants yesterday narrowly ratified a new contract that brings Hawaiian a critical step closer to emerging from bankruptcy on April 1.

A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge approved Hawaiian's reorganization plan on Thursday on the condition that its last two labor unions — the flight attendants' and pilots' — ratify new contracts. Hawaiian's 298 pilots are scheduled to begin voting on their tentative deal next week.

The flight attendants' balloting took 12 days for a three-year contract that calls for work-rule changes and requires them to pay more for medical coverage in exchange for no furloughs, according to Sharon Soper, president of the Association of Flight Attendants master executive council representing Hawaiian flight attendants.

Out of 740 flight attendants, 566 cast ballots, Soper said. Hawaiian officials yesterday said there are 794 flight attendants.

The new contract was approved by 52.5 percent of the vote, Soper said.

"We ratified," Soper said, "but not by much."

Soper believes that many flight attendants voted against the contract partly out of protest against management bonuses proposed during Hawaiian's bankruptcy.

"People felt there was no need to do this because Hawaiian was profitable and they resented having to make changes," Soper said. "There was a lot of emotional resentment and upset regarding the management bonuses."

Josh Gotbaum, Hawaiian's court-appointed bankruptcy trustee, said in a statement that, "Once again, Hawaiian's flight attendants have pulled together to help their airline move forward. The flight attendants are making sure that Hawaiian Airlines will exit Chapter 11 and show the world why they are the best in the business."

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8085.