Union for flight attendants takes issue with Allegiant

As Allegiant Travel Co.'s stalled contract negotiations with flight attendants head toward federal mediation, the Transport Workers Union has ratcheted up the pressure.

In a statement on Tuesday, the union, chosen as the flight attendants' representative in an election last year, accused the Las Vegas-based airline of potentially violating Hawaiian law by not offering health insurance to part-time flight attendants. By the union's account, the law requires anyone who works at least 20 hours to receive health insurance. A round trip between Honolulu and the mainland takes about 14 working hours, so by the union's count, a flight attendant based there could work only one day a week.

The company, prior to starting its Hawaiian service, "obtained guidance from the state in order to ensure complaince with its legal oblications going forward," an Allegiant spokeswoman said in a statement. She said part-timers best met the goal of keeping low operating costs.

Federal mediation starts Nov. 13, according to union officials. Allegiant will open a Honolulu base Nov. 14.

Contact reporter Tim O'Reiley at
toreiley@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5290.