Post-Bankruptcy Contract Allows Schedule Flexibility
Gulfstream International Airlines' flight crewmembers,
represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters APA Local
1224, today announced they have agreed to a five-year collective
bargaining agreement with Gulfstream International
Airlines.
Ballots were tallied on Friday, May 6. The new contract
will be in effect through May 2016.
"Gulfstream's bankruptcy and reorganization has been a lot for
our pilot group to digest over the last six months," said Cecil
Stewart, APA Teamsters Local 1224's Gulfstream Executive Council
Chairman. "With this stressful chapter from Gulfstream's history
behind us, we look forward to many years of growth and success for
the benefit of all of Gulfstream's flight crews."
The new contract provides a significant increase in the ability
of each pilot to modify his or her own schedule to accommodate
personal needs. At the same time, the contract also has
increased the Company's ability to obtain pilot coverage for open
trips, while ensuring that crewmembers are fairly compensated for
any flying above and beyond a normal monthly schedule. The contract
also strengthened the scope of the contract, and ensured that all
non-management pilots who work for Gulfstream will be fully covered
by the collective bargaining agreement. Gulfstream Teamsters'
Executive Council expects that the "quality of life" and
organizational improvements which are also included in the contract
will assist the airlines' new owners in a positive renovation of
the company culture.
Joe Muckle, president of APA Teamsters Local 1224 said,
"Contract negotiations are always about give and take. In
this case, the pilot group knew it was necessary to work with the
company to help reduce costs so that it could effectively undergo
its reorganization under Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In
understanding the goals upfront, we were able to collectively find
common ground on provisions which make this contract acceptable to
the membership and Gulfstream International Airlines, as well as
making it appealing to the airlines' new owners, Victory Park
Capital."
The Airline Professionals Association Teamsters Local 1224
represents the flight crewmembers of ABX Air, Atlas Air, Cape Air,
Gulfstream International, Horizon Airways, Kalitta Air, Miami Air,
Omni Air International, Polar Air Cargo, Southern Air and USA
3000.