Allegiant Pilots Vote to Join Teamsters
The pilots of Allegiant Air voted this past week to join the Airline Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
A subsidiary of Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Company; Allegiant employs pilots flying McDonnell Douglas MD80’s and Boeing 757’s and joins the Airline Professionals Association (APA), Teamsters Local 1224 in Wilmington, Ohio. There are approximately 350 pilots in the Allegiant bargaining unit.
Commenting on the election, Airline Division Director Captain David Bourne said, “As we welcome the Allegiant Air pilots to the Airline Division family and Local 1224 and help them prepare to begin their first negotiations with the company; we also look forward to meeting with the management of Allegiant. We are committed to working with the pilots to help them find common ground and forge a solid, productive relationship based on mutual respect that will provide the basis for a solid future for both Allegiant Air and its pilots.”
“The pilots of Allegiant have spoken and chosen to be represented by the Teamsters,” said Corey Berger, an Allegiant pilot. “We look forward to working with management to build a career airline and strong company. We also thank the Teamsters Airline Division, Local 1224 and the 1.4 million Teamsters for their continued support.”
“We look forward to representing the pilots of Allegiant Air as they begin negotiating their first contract,” said Daniel C. Wells, President of APA Local 1224. “But even beyond the scope of representation, we are excited about their future participation and professional contributions to our local and the Teamsters.”
Commenting on the organizing drive, Traey Liggett, an International Union Representative said, “Throughout their drive to organize as Teamsters, I consistently saw a steadfast commitment among the Allegiant Air pilots to secure a voice in their workplace and in their future. They are true trade unionists who understand the value of working together to advance the working conditions of their crew force.”
RAH Negotiations Continue
The RAH pilots negotiating committee, along with Attorney Bill Wilder, Kaitlyn Jahrling from the Contracts and Economics Division and Airline Division Negotiator Rick Dubinsky met with the management negotiating team and their attorneys from Ford & Harrison on Friday. The meeting was called by NMB mediator Jim Mackenzie to allow the Company to present its proposal for pilot pay rates included in Section 3 of a new CBA. The RAH pilots negotiating committee received the proposal and will thoroughly analyze it before responding at a future bargaining session.
Progress Continues on Frontier Maintenance Negotiations
Negotiations for Frontier Maintenance workers, represented by Locals 455 and 104, continued last week. Progress continues on the agreement, with Tentative Agreements now reached on the following sections:
- Article 1 Purpose of Agreement
- Article 4 Managements Rights
- Article 5 Union representation
- Article 6 Union Security
- Article 9 Reduction in Force and Recall
- Article 15 Safety, Health, and OJI
- Article 16 Grievance and Discipline
- Article 17 System Board
- Article 27 No Strike – No Lockout
- Article 28 Savings Clause
Next negotiating session is scheduled for August 28th -30th in Denver, Colorado.
Airline and Industry
USAirways is weighing its options for a possible merger with American Airlines. US Airways is considering signing a nondisclosure agreement that will allow the two carriers to discuss confidential information.
The refinery purchased by Delta Air Lines is on schedule to begin refining oil after Labor Day, a source says.Airlines for America has joined 11 other aviation groups in sending a letter to Secretary Janet Napolitano of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The letter asks that the department meet its deadline for rule-making on repair-station security by the fourth quarter.