Executive Council Says Contract Will Not Be Considered

The master executive council of ALPA on Monday gave an emphatic "no" to a contract proposed by American Eagle that would have established a "'B' scale" for pay and benefits offered to newly-hired pilots.

Airline executives had proposed the lower compensation for new hires in a contract put forth in June. The Dallas Morning News reports that the master executive council voted 7-2 against the proposed contract. The union said in a resolution on the contract that "The concept of a 'B' scale is unacceptable and thus this document is unacceptable and shall NOT be sent for pilot ratification.”

Master executive council Chairman Tony Guiterrez said there the contract did include larger regional jets in its fleet plan, as well as the opportunity for a few more American Eagle pilots to move up in the ranks with the new American.

But, he said, a 'B' scale compensation structure was "not an acceptable means to accomplish these goals."

The paper reports that Delta Airlines recently finalized an agreement with its regional airline partners that lowers operating costs, and union leaders including Gutierrez had warned its members that similar pressure could be expected from American Eagle.

FMI: www.alpa.org