COVINGTON, Ky. (WXIX) – Allegiant Air pilots have voted to strike if a contract isn’t agreed to quickly, just weeks before the busiest travel holidays of the year.
Pilot Aaron Adrian of Teamsters Local 2118 explained that the airline and the union have been in contract negotiations for more than four years.
For the past two years, they have been mediating federally with the National Mediation Board.
That board acts as a monitor and intermediary for their negotiations, and if it determines there is an impasse, it will offer interest arbitrage.
If the airline and the union reject this, the board can release them during a 30-day cooling-off period.
“If we are released by the National Mediation Board, and we enter a 30-day cooling-off period, and no agreement is reached after that cooling-off period, then we will strike,” Adrian told FOX 19.
Allegiant Air issued a statement listing some of the offers they brought to the negotiating table:
Allegiant is currently in negotiations with the Teamsters Local 2118, with mediation assistance from the National Mediation Board (NMB), to finalize an agreement for our pilots. Allegiant has offered a competitive package, including an immediate 50% average increase in hourly wages, which can be scaled to 70% over five years. In addition, we have offered a 50% increase in the direct contribution to pilot retirement benefits, improvements in long-term disability benefits and comprehensive scheduling and quality of life improvements designed to respect seniority and protect our business model.
AAA expects nearly 9 million people will travel by air over Thanksgiving, with more typically flying around Christmas.
“We understand all the concerns that may arise when it comes to leisure travel,” Adrian said. “We are committed to this airline. That said, we cannot continue to be undervalued and taken advantage of.”
Both sides have said they are committed to resolving the dispute.
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