CAL, UAL Pilots Vote Overwhelmingly to Authorize Strike Pilots at
legacy United Airlines and legacy Continental Airlines, speaking clearly,
loudly, and with a unified voice, have overwhelmingly authorized their MECs to
cause a legal withdrawal of service at such time as they deem it prudent and
advisable.
Nearly 94 percent of the eligible pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots
Association, International, took part in the ballot, with 99 percent voting in
support of a withdrawal of services, if required. This authorization comes after
two years of negotiations for a new joint pilot contract following the merger of
United and Continental, announced in May 2010. If the National Mediation Board (NMB)
concludes that further mediated negotiations will not produce an agreement, it
could release both sides into economic self-help after the expiration of a
30-day cooling-off period, at which point a strike could ensue.
Said CAL MEC chair Capt. Jay Pierce, “The strength of this
vote clearly indicates the level of frustration our pilots have with
management’s disinterest in reaching a conclusion to negotiations. Our pilots
are tired of management’s lack of progress with the merger and the damage to our
airline that grows every day. Management would be wise to note the resolve of
their pilots and to reconsider the substantial benefits that can be obtained by
working with us. The merger cannot be completed and the synergies will not be
fully realized without completed labor contracts. A strike is never the
preferred path to reaching agreement, but our pilots have demonstrated that they
realize it may be necessary.”
UAL MEC chair Capt. Jay Heppner remarked, “Over the last decade, pilots made
several major sacrifices to help the airline survive and management has done
absolutely nothing to restore those sacrifices. In fact, they have done the
opposite by offshoring and outsourcing our jobs at the very same time they have
given themselves millions of dollars in salary, bonuses, and perks. When
management makes decisions based on their own needs instead of the needs of
customers and employees, the company suffers, which is what is happening today.
If a strike is what it is going to take to wake up the company’s leadership, the
pilots are prepared to act.”
The vote by pilots followed multiple letters from ALPA to the NMB in May and
June, requesting that the NMB assist the parties to bring about an agreement by
proffering arbitration, and if not accepted by both parties, issuing a release
under Section 5, First of the Act. If the NMB releases the parties to what is
referred to as “self-help,” the pilots would be allowed to take lawful action,
including a strike, following a 30-day cooling-off period.
The pilots, involved in joint negotiations for a labor contract that will
cover pilots at both airlines, are wholly dissatisfied with the pace of the
talks. The parties initiated negotiations in May 2010. The parties jointly
requested mediation by the NMB in December 2010 and mediated negotiations were
initiated on February 28, 2011. The parties have been in mediated bargaining
since that time. |