Allegiant Air pilots prepare for possible strike as airline continues negotiations

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Allegiant Air pilots protested outside Asheville Regional Airport on Jan. 7 seeking an updated contract.

They are negotiating an updated contract with Allegiant Air that includes higher wages better suited to their industry peers.

They claim that the fares they currently offer are 24% lower than other airline pilots. There is also talk of reducing work rules and time concessions.

This is just one of many information pickets being held across the country.

News 13 spoke with local APA Teamsters member Captain Byron Girmscheid who said although it was just a picket line, an all-out strike could happen soon.

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“Allegiant Air pilots, myself included. We voted 97% in favor of a strike if and when this is approved. We realize this would be detrimental to passengers, routes and flight schedules and we “We care about our passengers and our punctuality. However, we voted 97% in favor of a strike if it was approved.”

They have been in negotiations with Allegiant for more than three years over these requests, but the two sides have yet to reach an agreement.

News 13 reached out to Allegiant Air for a statement describing their negotiations. The airline told News 13 it was the union delaying the shutdown process.

Allegiant Air’s full statement reads:

“Allegiant is currently in negotiations with Teamsters Local 2118, with mediation assistance from the National Mediation Board (NMB), to finalize an agreement for our pilots. Allegiant offered a competitive package – including an immediate 50% average hourly wage increase. which extends up to 70% over 5 years. Additionally, we proposed a 50 percent increase in direct contribution to pilot retirement benefits, long-term disability benefits up to FAA retirement age, maternity benefits, and benefits maternity. paternity leave and significant scheduling and quality of life improvements designed to honor seniority and protect our business model.

These are among the proposals Allegiant has on the table on issues that remain open between the parties. Allegiant continued to try to work with the union to resolve these issues, or at least narrow the gap, by making several comprehensive economic proposals. However, the union has not responded or made counter-proposals on key economic issues pending for more than two years. We remain hopeful that the union will choose to engage with us at the table on these key items so that we can achieve our shared goal of reaching an agreement that our pilots are proud to support.

To further demonstrate our commitment to this process – and show our appreciation for our pilots – Allegiant has been accruing a retention bonus since June 2023 that represents an 82% pay increase for first-year first officers and a 35% pay increase for everyone else. pilots. The accumulated money will be paid out in a lump sum to individuals once a new contract is ratified. For senior captains, this retention bonus has already exceeded $100,000 and counting.

Members of IBT 2118 exercise their right to organize an information picket. This is not a work stoppage, nor is it imminent. For a work stoppage, or strike, to occur under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), which is the law that governs labor relations in the airline industry, all RLA negotiation procedures must be exhausted. These include the following:

It is the NMB – not the parties themselves – that determines whether negotiations between the airline and the union have reached an impasse.

The NMB offers arbitration of disputes to the parties to resolve their outstanding issues.

If one (or both) parties refuse arbitration of disputes, the NMB releases them from mediation.

There then follows a 30-day reflection period, which can be extended by decision of the President of the United States.

It is important to note that none of these conditions have been met and Teamsters Local 2118 cannot legally call for a strike, slowdown, or any other type of “self-help” action. until all these conditions have been met.

In the past year alone, IBT Local 2118 has changed its bargaining team four times and been placed under emergency trusteeship by the national union, impacting the bargaining process . Despite these unexpected changes, Allegiant remains steadfast in its commitment to working in good faith to reach a deal for our pilots. »