Teamsters File Temporary Restraining Order Seeking To Compel Bargaining

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Teamsters Airline Division and Teamsters Local 1108 filed a temporary restraining order against Flexjet and Flight Options the evening of Friday, April 22 to compel the companies to accept the integrated seniority list of pilots created by pilots’ committees and to bargain with the Teamsters in good faith to reach an amended collective bargaining agreement. The Teamsters are hopeful that the federal court will expeditiously schedule a hearing to address their claims.

According to the union, Flexjet and Flight Options, operating under the umbrella of One Sky, LLC, have thus far refused to negotiate with the Teamsters over an amended collective bargaining agreement to cover the merged group of pilots that the IBT won the right to represent in December 2015. On April 22, Flight Options unilaterally changed the existing Flight Options bargaining agreement by offering the pilots buyouts in a voluntary separation program without negotiating with the union in violation of the Railway Labor Act.

“It is unfortunate that we must continually resort to seeking relief from a federal judge to force the senior executives of Flight Options and Flexjet to comply with their contractual and legal obligations,” said Capt. David Bourne, Director of the Teamsters Airline Division. “We are the legally recognized representatives of this group of pilots. The company needs to come to the table to negotiate and to honor the agreements they have made.”

“We will continue to make every attempt to negotiate on all matters in the best interests of all OneSky pilots –– even if it means every dispute that management refuses to address in other ways must be taken before a federal judge for resolution,” said Capt. Efrem Votja, President of Local 1108. “The pilot group is tired of the games that OneSky management is playing. To that end, with the solid support of the membership, we are confident we will ultimately prevail.”

The Teamsters have asked the court to order the carrier to restore the status quo regarding the voluntary separation program.

FMI: www.teamster.org