Wed, Dec 27, 2006
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.
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