Airline Labor Relations Personnel Jobs

As airlines and airports continue to grow, there will be a need for more and more employees. Each employee wants to be treated fairly and earn a decent living wage, but some employers do not always agree on what is fair. This has created a need for unions, which can also turn out to be unfair in some of their demands. Airline labor relations personnel jobs are necessary as a mediary help position between the two often strongly opposed groups.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that air travel – for passengers and cargo – is going to be increasing in the next few years. Of course, this is good for the creation of more jobs in almost every area of the airline industry. It also means that there will probably continue to be problems between labor and management – as airports increase in size, and the number of employees that need to be represented by legal means.

Job Responsibilities

Labor relations personnel, with flight attendant unions and pilot unions for instance, ensure that airline employees are treated fairly and that airline employers get the quality of work they need from their employees. Often when there are workers who belong to the union it is the responsibility of labor relations personnel to negotiate with these groups. Employees in these positions also work to ensure that labor laws are not violated.

Did You Know? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 46 percent of all employees in the air transportation industry are union members or are covered by union contracts.

When negotiations are needed in the airline industry, they come under the authority and rules of the Railway Labor Act. In addition, airline contracts do not expire, but they can be amended. Since strikes and other problems can have such an adverse effect on the bottom line of the employees involved, and of the airline, the goal of negotiations is often to avert a strike altogether.

Job Requirements

Most of the work will be conducted in an office. Typically, you will be working a 40-hour week. When crises come, however, and negotiations are needed to resolve that problem, you can expect to work more hours. Professional grooming standards will apply.

Training and Education

Due to the nature of the job, a Master’s Degree in law is often required. An undergraduate degree in personnel relations, labor economics, and industrial psychology or sociology may be sufficient. In addition, some experience may be required.

Salary and Benefits

The salary of someone working in airline labor relations personnel jobs can expect to earn between $37,000 and $98,000. The benefits are good. There is the possibility of promotion to labor relations manager.