Strike Would Not Happen Until September

As informational picketing began at Honolulu International Airport, pilots for Hawaiian Airlines voted on a strike authorization Tuesday. If the vote is successful and the federal government grants permission, ALPA could call a strike against the airline.

USA Today reports that both sides say progress is being made in negotiations, and more meetings have been scheduled into October, according to airline spokesman Keoni Wagner. "These tactics are not unusual at this point in labor negotiations," he said. "They will have no effect on our operations."

The contract talks have been going on for two years. The pilot's current contract dates back to 2005, when Hawaiian emerged from bankruptcy.

The union says that while progress was made, Hawaiian management still insists that any salary increases over 1%, or other contract gains, be paid for by pilots making offsetting concessions elsewhere in the contract. "Based on the airline's outstanding financial performance and the record bonuses management received last year, this lack of substantial movement has forced the pilots to call for a strike authorization vote."

The pilots have set up what they call a "strategic preparedness center", to be used to coordinate phone banks, picketing and other operations should the National Mediation Board release the pilot group from mediation and declare an impasse.

FMI: www.alpa.org