Alaska Airlines workers split vote on labor proposal

Alaska Airlines said its 625 ramp service and stores agents represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers ratified a two-year contract extension, with 85 percent of those voting approving it.

But the same two-year extension proposal was rejected by the airline's 2,800 clerical, office and passenger service employees, also represented by the Machinists union, with 65 percent rejecting it. The Seattle-based airline said it would begin preparing for contract negotiations with that group early next year.

Airlines' labor contracts don't expire, Alaska Airlines said, but rather become amendable. The contract with the clerical, office and passenger service employees becomes amendable in July.

The ramp service and stores agents' contact extension raises their pay by 1.5 percent in June 2010 and 2011, gives an annual pay raise based on seniority, and adds the workers to a performance-based incentive plan.