Nearly 70 Percent Of Pilots Approved The Consolidations

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters won the representation election Monday for all pilots employed by Indianapolis-based Republic Airways Holdings, receiving 68 percent of the total vote. After certification by the National Mediation Board (NMB), the International Brotherhood of Teamsters will become the representative of the pilots of Chautauqua, Frontier, Lynx, Midwest, Republic and Shuttle America.

"These pilots have chosen to make a whole new beginning," Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said. "I applaud them for their historic victory and I'm especially pleased we can announce this wonderful news to more than 5,000 Teamsters and their families attending the 28th International Brotherhood of Teamsters."

"We look forward to joining together with the other pilot groups," said Local 357 Executive Council Chairman Capt. Patrick Gannon. "We can now move forward with our goal of One List, One Voice, One Contract."

Previously, Frontier pilots were represented by the Frontier Airlines Pilot Association (FAPA). Midwest pilots were represented by the Air Line Pilot Association (ALPA) and Lynx was represented by the United Transportation Union (UTU). In 2009, Republic Airways placed the winning bid in an auction to acquire the then-bankrupt Frontier Airlines. In October 2010, Teamsters Local 357 filed with the NMB for single carrier status to integrate all RAH-owned airlines into one representative body. On April 8, 2011, the National Mediation Board ruled that all airlines own by RAH are operating as a single transportation system. The NMB announced in early May that an election was required to determine the representation for the new, combined pilot group. IBT received the majority of the votes in the election.

The pilots of Chautauqua, Republic and Shuttle America are working under a 2003 contract and wages. The contract has been amendable since 2007. The pilots staged an informational picket in Indianapolis in June. Contract negotiations are currently in federal mediation with the NMB. The newly combined pilot group will come under one contract following contract amalgamation negotiations which will be initiated by Teamsters at the appropriate time and after consultation and joint planning among the pilots of all RAH subsidiaries.

FMI: www.teamster.org