SEATTLE, May 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines and the Transport Workers Union today jointly announced that the carrier's 36 dispatchers have ratified a new four-year contract by a ratio of nearly 86 percent. The contract includes wage increases and provisions that improve quality of life issues, among other changes.

"This contract is a direct result of the committed input and support of our membership and represents an agreement that was achieved through open, honest conversation between the company and union," said John E. Plowman, president of Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 542.

"We're pleased to have a ratified contract that recognizes the professionalism, dedication and skills of our dispatchers, and continues to provide them with a stable labor agreement," said Kelley Dobbs, Alaska Airlines' vice president of human resources and labor relations.

Alaska Airlines and the TWU reached tentative agreement on a new contract in March. The newly ratified agreement becomes amendable on March 24, 2015.

The TWU represents more than 200,000 employees in the airline, railroad, transit, gaming, utility and university service industries. More information about the TWU is available at www.twu.org.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together serve 90 cities throughout Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

SOURCE Alaska Airlines