Thu, Nov 24, 2011
Labor Action Is On Hold Pending Federally-Mediated Talks
Pilots for three airlines owned by Indianapolis-based Republic
Airways Holdings voted to authorize their union leaders to call a
strike against the company should it become necessary. Members of
International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local No. 357 who fly for
Chautauqua, Republic Airlines and Shuttle America overwhelmingly
voted "yes" in a union-held strike authorization election that
closed Tuesday.
The vote does not mean that pilots will strike immediately.
Union representatives and the company have been in federally
mediated contract negotiations under the Railway Labor Act. This
vote determines whether the Executive Council/Executive Board can
exercise the pilots' legal right to strike at Republic Airways
Holdings upon release from the National Mediation Board. The
resulting “yes” vote authorizes the union leadership to
call a strike should it become necessary but DOES NOT force the
union to call a strike or make a strike inevitable.
RAH pilots are working under a 2003 contract. The contract has
been amendable since 2007. Local 357’s leadership has
willingly limited contract negotiations to four critical sections
(outsourcing, compensation, displacements/vacancies and
scheduling). Talks are currently in federal mediation per Railway
Labor Act rules. All scheduled mediation sessions have concluded.
The mediator has not yet decided whether to hold additional
sessions or to recommend releasing the union and company from
mediation to potential self-help/strike activity.
“We don’t want to strike,” explained Pat
Gannon. “However, we need the company to understand that it
is in everyone’s best interest to treat pilots fairly and
with respect. We have pilots who work long hours, but still
can’t feed their families.” Gannon goes on to explain
that First Officer pay has topped out and continued increases in
benefit costs have resulted in what is essentially a pay cut for
many. “It’s sad that some of our pilots can make more
money drawing unemployment than doing the professional job they
have been trained for and were hired to do.”
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