Pinnacle, Mesaba And Colgan Pilots Broker Agreement In Just 102
Days
Pilot leaders representing almost 3,000 pilots flying under the
Pinnacle Airlines Corp. banner have endorsed a tentative agreement
that would unite pilots from three airlines under a single
contract, paving the way for the smooth integration of one of the
world's largest regional carriers. The Master Executive Councils
(MECs) from Pinnacle Airlines, Mesaba Airlines and Colgan Air
unanimously approved a joint collective bargaining agreement (JCBA)
that was negotiated in only 102 days. ALPA pilots from the three
carriers will now vote on whether to ratify the five-year
agreement.
“The proposed JCBA is a remarkable achievement that will
yield concrete gains for every Pinnacle Airlines Corp. pilot. It
meets the Pinnacle, Mesaba and Colgan leadership’s stated
goals of providing immediate improvements to the pilot group and
advancing individual careers, while also positioning our merged
airline for continued growth and prosperity,” said Capt.
Scott Erickson, Pinnacle MEC chairman.
ALPA leaders began the process of merging the three groups after
Pinnacle Airlines Corp. bought Mesaba last summer. The airline
holding company purchased Colgan in early 2006 and has stated it
plans to phase out Colgan, make Pinnacle an all-jet airline and
Mesaba an all-turboprop operation serving passengers of Delta,
United/Continental and US Airways.
“The danger was that management would use the merger as an
opportunity to whipsaw our pilot groups,” said Mesaba MEC
Chairman Capt. Mark Nagel. “We resolved to cooperate as a
team to craft one contract and one seniority list, and we have
achieved an agreement that will improve work rules, pay, benefits,
and job security for every pilot at Pinnacle, Mesaba and Colgan. We
look forward to working together as one airline to enhance the
careers of all the pilots in our system.”
If the agreement is ratified, the next step in merging the three
groups will be to create a joint seniority list. The Pinnacle,
Mesaba and Colgan pilot merger committees have begun working on a
joint list, with a target completion date of May 1.
“This is a unique moment in the history of the Association
and our pilot groups,” said Colgan MEC Chairman Capt. Mark
Segaloff, who was also recently elected as an ALPA executive vice
president. “To rapidly negotiate a joint collective
bargaining agreement and then secure the support of three MECs
speaks volumes about the hard work that was put forth in the joint
negotiations by our JNC. We all have a lot to be proud of in this
agreement, and we urge every Pinnacle Airlines Corp. pilot to vote
'yes' when it comes to them for a vote.”
FMI: www.alpa.org