Republic Airways and Teamsters Local 135 union announced earlier this week that they had reached a tentative agreement on terms of a new five-year contract for the roughly 2,100 Republic Flight Attendants represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (“IBT”).
“Our members are extraordinary aviation professionals responsible for ensuring exceptional safety and customer service for thousands of passengers each and every day,” said Captain David Bourne, director of the Airline Division of the IBT. “They deserve the job security and the wage, benefit and quality of life improvements this extension provides."
The agreement includes competitive wage rates, improved 401(k) benefits, an enhanced paid-day-off program, and other benefits and quality of life enhancements. The agreement also provides each Flight Attendant with a minimum signing bonus of $1,000 upon ratification.
“Our Flight Attendants are skilled, highly trained aviation professionals who are an integral part of our safety culture and who are the face of our Company. They deserve a contract that gives them long-term security and that recognizes the important role they play in our continued success,” said Matt Koscal, Republic’s senior vice president and chief administrative officer. “I want to thank the Local 135 Negotiating Committee for their hard work in negotiating this agreement and working to position our Flight Attendants and our airline to be successful in the future.”
The current labour agreement became amendable in July 2018. If ratified, the new agreement will ensure Republic’s Flight Attendants remain atop the industry for total rewards and quality of life. The tentative agreement requires ratification by a simple majority of the Flight Attendants, and the union will begin a series of open sessions with its membership over the coming weeks to review the details of the agreement. A ratification vote is expected to be completed by the end of October.
