Though Negotiations Lag the Industry, Breeze Pilots Are Ready for a Fight

Breeze Airways pilots held the company's first informational picket at the Norfolk International Airport, aiming to "send a clear message to Breeze management that it's time to stop putting its profits over its pilots and deliver an industry-standard contract."

Breeze reps from the ALPA's Master Executive Council said that the group has been working under an "outdated employee handbook for 3 years" despite being in negotiations with the company for more than a year and a half. It will remain to be seen if that timing works against them, since all the legacies managed to secure contracts while the pilot-hiring iron was hottest. Now, with new-hire classes paused across the industry, Breeze pilots may find that management isn't all that accepting of cutting checks 50% fatter than they used to be. But Breeze folks seem like they're willing to duke it out and get their piece of the pie no matter what.

"The airline is on track for a profitable quarter while our pilots are experiencing unilateral pay cuts and worsening work rules without protections," said Alexander Kluge, Breeze Airways ALPA Master Executive Council chair. "The airline has become profitable on the backs of all labor and especially the pilots through cutting our pay, work rules, and schedules."

"Breeze pilots are committed to the long-term success of our airline, but it's time for senior management to recognize the contributions we make and invest in its pilots," added Kluge. "We fly the same people on the same routes and on the same equipment as our competitors yet our pilots earn considerably less than other pilots do. Senior management repeatedly says they want Breeze to be the best place for pilots, but continue to undermine pilots by changing rules and schedules on a whim. We are tired of the repeated broken promises."

Kluge tipped his hat to the FAs in the family, too, noting that they tapped in the big names in negotiations like they did with ALPA. In their own election, the flight attendants there certified the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO as their bargaining representative going forward. "Breeze pilots and flight attendants share similar quality-of-life issues and can relate to the repeated broken promises from management. We fully support the more than 600 Breeze Airways flight attendants in their next steps in securing the working protections they deserve through the representation of a well-established union."

FMI: www.alpa.org