Teamsters Gain Improvements, Wage Increases At Airline

Pilots represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Airline Division and Republic Airways Holdings Inc. have announced that pilots represented by Teamsters Local 357 have voted to ratify a new three-year agreement.

Results of the vote were 1,363 votes in favor of the agreement to 421 votes against, with 1,784, or 90 percent of eligible pilots, participating in the vote.

Teamsters Local 357 represents more than 2,100 pilots for Republic’s subsidiaries, Republic Airlines and Shuttle America. 

The new contract contains improvements in both pay and work rules, and includes significant bonuses upon ratification and on the one-year anniversary of the ratification.

“After several years of negotiations and mediation, we are glad Republic pilots have a contract that reflects their significant contributions to the company and the airline industry,” said Capt. David Bourne, Teamsters Airline Division Director. “We will continue to work toward the best future possible for our members at Republic and throughout the airline industry.”

“We are pleased our pilots have agreed to a contract that will reward our pilots with industry-leading compensation and an improved quality of life,” said Matt Koscal, Republic Vice President of Human Resources. ”We still have many challenges to overcome to achieve a consensual restructuring of our airline, but today’s positive outcome helps us move forward in full alignment with our pilots.”

The current collective bargaining agreement was ratified in 2003 and became amendable in October of 2007. Pilots are covered by the Railway Labor Act, so the contract does not expire.

(Source: Teamsters news release)

FMI: www.rjet.com, www.teamster.org