PDT Pilots Make Contract Gains
Piedmont pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, have
ratified the tentative agreement reached with the company in early February.
With nearly 90 percent of the eligible pilots voting, 78 percent voted in favor
of the new collective bargaining agreement.
The new contract includes a signing bonus, annual pay increases, and an
agreement with US Airways mainline to provide career progression opportunities
for Piedmont pilots. The pilots also agreed to contribute more to their health
care, bringing their contributions more in line with the rest of the industry.
“This agreement not only rewards this pilot group for
their commitment to Piedmont Airlines, but also recognizes their contributions
to US Airways—Piedmont’s parent company,” said Piedmont MEC chairman Capt. Bruce
Freedman. “We’re pleased that nearly four years of negotiations
have been successfully concluded and we have come away from the table with a
contract that will enable the pilots to see not only short-term benefits in
their paychecks but also long-term benefits in their careers.”
The pilot group began negotiations in 2009, with both sides seeking
assistance from the National Mediation Board in 2011. The agreement is expected
to be signed April 1, with full implementation occurring over the next few
months.
“All of us at ALPA are pleased to see the Piedmont negotiations come to a
successful and mutually beneficial conclusion,” said Capt. Lee Moak, ALPA
president. “We are grateful not only to the pilot negotiators, but also to the
NMB and the Company for their efforts to obtain a deal that satisfied all
parties.” |