HONOLULU --
Hawaiian Airlines on Thursday announced it had reached a tentative deal on a four-year labor contract with its largest union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
The tentative settlement covers a little more than 1,200 workers from customer service to ramp operators, reservations and other office staff.
The tentative agreement was hammered out in Phoenix.
The settlement calls for pay raises and operational improvements, according to a joint statement from the airline and the union.
"It's a good solid agreement in lieu of the what's happening throughout Hawaii and the city and everything," Hawaiian Airlines CEO Mark Dunkerley said.
Dunkerley said that one of the company's core objectives was to find ways to improve the standard of living of its employees.
The union said its original contract expired in 2008 and membership rejected an earlier temporary settlement. Now, after more than a year of back and forth, and the improved financial picture of the airline a, new deal is in place.
Hawaiian has been in and out of bankruptcy twice. During those times the union acknowledged there have been years of labor concessions and take backs.
The details will not be officially released until the union members get to see what has been agreed to. Right now, union officials do not think a ratification vote will happen until after the holidays.
Hawaiian still has yet to strike a deal with its pilots union. Negotiators have been in Honolulu all this week trying to hammer out a deal. Talks are supposed to wind up by this weekend.
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