TA Contains Wage, Work Rules And Other Improvements

Island Air pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), announced this week they had reached a Tentative Agreement with management after 16 months of contract negotiations. This agreement, if ratified by the pilot group, will provide wage increases, work rule improvements and furlough protection.

"We are pleased that after 16 months of negotiations in a challenging economic environment we were able to come to a mutually beneficial agreement with Island Air management," said Capt. Charlie Ciszek, chairman of the ALPA unit at Island Air. "This agreement rewards the dedicated, professional pilots of Island Air for their hard work while allowing our company to continue to grow and provide excellent service to its loyal customers."

The Island Air pilots' contract became amendable November 30, 2007. Recognizing that they fly in a leisure market, the pilots and company began negotiating a short-term agreement that would provide job protections and improvements to pilots' wages, benefits and work rules, as well as bolster the company's financial status amidst declining tourism and rising fuel prices in Hawaii.

While the cost of fuel has dropped considerably, tourism continues to suffer and is expected to remain the same for the remainder of 2009.

The Island Air Master Executive Council -- the union's governing body -- reviewed the Tentative Agreement and recommends that pilots support this agreement. ALPA and pilot leaders will soon provide Island Air pilots with a copy of the proposed agreement and address any of their questions during meetings tentatively scheduled for the last week of April. Following the meetings and a show of support by the pilot group, the Island Air Master Executive Council will formally decide whether or not to ratify the Tentative Agreement as the new collective bargaining agreement.

If ratified, the agreement will be sent to ALPA President Captain John Prater for signature.

FMI: www.alpa.org