Union To Seek Injunction Against Company

ANN has learned court-directed arbitration between PHI and its formerly-striking pilots has failed. The Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 108 representing PHI's unionized pilots has accused the company of not following federal law in rehiring pilots who voted to end a two-month strike and return to work unconditionally.

According to OPEIU, PHI's union pilots struck following nearly two years of failed attempts to negotiate a work contract.

In a previous statement, a union spokesman accused the company of breaking the law by not taking union pilots back in order of seniority, and continues to keep temporarily-hired pilots and supervisors in cockpits while union pilots who struck wait for their old jobs back.

The company provides helicopter transportation services for clients in the oil, gas and emergency medical evacuation markets. It says the rehiring process is complicated and is reviewing all relevant information before acting.

As ANN previously reported, the union threatened legal action unless the company quit dragging its feet and started rehiring by the rules as OPEIU sees them.

When the union sought a court injunction late last November, the judge instead directed the two sides meet with a federally-appointed mediator. The union and the company met on December 14 and 15 behind closed doors.

OPEIU spokesman Jerry Capeci told the Advertiser, "The mediation failed and did not produce an agreement."

Union officials say they will not focus on an upcoming preliminary hearing where it will follow through on its threat to seek an injunction forcing the company to speed the rehiring process and get its pilots back to work.

According to the Advertiser, the strike cost PHI $3 million in revenues while nearly half of its 550 pilots engaged in a two-month strike.

FMI: http://local108pilots.org, www.phihelico.com