Airline Week in Review July 2, 2012

SPECIAL EDITION

Airline Division Files for Representation Elections at Allegiant Air
This morning, the Airline Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters announced it has made an application to the National Mediation Board (NMB) for a representation election to be held for the pilots of Allegiant Air.
 “We are honored to have been asked by the pilots of Allegiant Air to meet with them and explain the benefits of representation by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Airline Division,” said Captain David Bourne, Director of the Airline Division. “The overwhelmingly positive response we received in meetings and the outstanding response to the card drive is a testament to the dedication of the Allegiant Air pilots. We look forward to a favorable ruling on our application by the NMB and a vote being scheduled as soon as possible.”
Allegiant Air, subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Company is based in Las Vegas, Nevada and employs 363 pilots flying McDonnell Douglas MD80’s and Boeing 757’s.
Airline Division Files for Arbitration for Republic Pilots
Citing an impasse in mediation efforts to reach a settlement with the company, this morning the Airline Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters delivered a letter to the National Mediation Board requesting to be released from mediation in its contract negotiations on behalf of pilots employed by Indianapolis-based Republic Airways Holdings.
“This will set the stage for the management group at Republic Airlines to either negotiate in good faith or face self-help by the Republic pilots with the full backing of my office and all 1.4 million Teamsters,” Teamsters Airline Division Director Capt. David Bourne wrote in a separate letter to pilots.
In the letter to the Board on behalf of the Teamsters, Bourne wrote; “in accordance with Section 5, First (b) of the Railway Labor Act, 45 U.S.C. § 155, First (b), requests the National Mediation Board to end mediation and proffer arbitration to the parties in the captioned case.”
“The Teamsters have dutifully committed to mediation with Republic Airways while the company has made no meaningful attempt at negotiating, instead engaging in a pattern of unilateral management efforts that undercut the mediation process,” according to Bourne.
The company attempted to discipline one of the pilots for performing work on behalf of the union, the Teamsters said. Additionally, Republic Airways has tried to impose a new pay rate and instituted a signing bonus to lure new pilots to the company rather than negotiating these items under the auspices of the NMB.
ExpressJet Negotiations Continue
Negotiations resumed in Houston on June 27^th and June 28^th at the offices of Local 19. The meeting was scheduled by the parties despite the unavailability of the mediator for the session.
These negotiations were held at the offices of Local 19. They were planned without the mediator, who was unavailable for the sessions.
The Union made counter proposals to the Company on Section 3 (Classifications), Bid Areas and Work Areas and Section 10 (Leaves of Absence). While there was through discussion and proposals were exchanged by both sides during the sessions, they were able to reach a tentative agreement on Section 10 (Leaves of Absence).
The next scheduled meeting will be on Monday, July 16^th in Baltimore, with the Mediator.

Airline Industry News

Airline and Labor
Delta Air Lines pilots approved a new labor agreement last week after two months of bargaining. The contract, which took effect Sunday, runs through 2015.
AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines, wants a three- month extension of its reorganization plan under bankruptcy protection. An extension would push back the deadline from Sept. 28 to Dec. 27.
Fabrice Brégier, the CEO of Airbus, said Sunday that he would announce the European aircraft manufacturer's plans for Mobile, Ala.
Airbus has made offers to move jobs from Europe to the U.S. to blunt a finding by the World Trade Organization that it has received billions of dollars in illegal subsidies. Boeing is trying to pre-empt this strategy by pointing out that even if Airbus moves certain operations to the U.S., it still won't match the number of U.S. jobs lost due to the subsidies.
U.S. airlines employed 1.3% more full-time equivalent employees in April, compared to April of last year, according to the Department of Transportation.
A bankruptcy court has approved new labor agreements between AMR Corp.'s American Airlines and five groups represented by the Transport Workers Union.

In observance of Independence Day, the Airline Division offices will be closed on Wednesday, July 4, 2012. We will re-open for normal business on Thursday July 5, 2012.

On behalf of the officers and staff of the Airline Division, we would like to extend our wishes for a joyful Independence Day.