Will It Be Ratified?

Offshore Logistics, Inc. reached a tentative agreement Thursday afternoon with OPEIU Local 107, representing their North American pilots. These pilots primarily support the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico and in Alaska. The affected personnel work for Air Logistics, and Air Logistics of Alaska, subsidiaries of Offshore Logistics.

"I trust it was a fair negotiation," said Air Logistics spokesman, Mike Suldo, to ANN. "Both sides gave a little and got a little. We hope the pilots ratify the agreement that both the union and the company are recommending."

The company officially announced the agreement Friday, as company and union negotiators departed from the nation's capital. The tentative agreement is endorsed by both Offshore Logistics and Union Leaders who pledge to work together for ratification.

Before the announcement, tensions were high at the company headquarters in New Iberia, LA. Negotiations have been ongoing for 2 years. A federal judge had ordered negotiations to proceed last week, and the National Mediation Board invited the parties to Washington to work out the agreement this week.

The union was prepared to strike to obtain wages more appropriate to the skills required and danger involved in their work. In that event, the company could have implemented their last proposal to the union unilaterally.

The company news release states that it will not be placed at a competitive disadvantage by the ratification of this agreement. They operate a wide variety of helicopters from locations around the Gulf Coast and in Alaska.

FMI: www.olog.com