BREAKING NEWS: Pilots Enter Federally Mediated Contract Negotiations With Atlas Air | Global Trade Magazine
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April 26th, 2016 | Written by Peter Buxbaum
BREAKING NEWS: Pilots Enter Federally Mediated Contract Negotiations With Atlas Air
National Mediation Board Approves Pilots’ Request for Mediated Contract Negotiations
Federally mandated mediation ordered for air carriers of shipments of export cargo and import cargo in international trade.
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Teamsters say Atlas Air insisted that pilots merge their contract with the Southern Air pilots’ existing contract.
Teamsters say Atlas Air contract strategy would suppress wages for pilots at Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo.
The Southern Air contract contains terms that fall below cargo industry standards, according to pilots’ union.
The United States government has accepted the request of the union representing over 1,300 pilots flying for Atlas Air, Inc. and Polar Air Cargo to mediate contract negotiations with the airlines.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Teamsters Airline Division and APA Teamsters Local 1224, filed for mediation with the National Mediation Board (NMB) recently after Atlas Air refused to engage in any further legally-mandated negotiations.
The NMB is the federal agency that facilitates labor-management relations in the aviation and railroad industries. Atlas Air and its parent company, Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (AAWW), objected to the pilots’ request for mediation. The NMB has assigned a seasoned airline labor mediator to assess the parties’ dispute and determine how best to proceed with negotiations.
Last month the unions announced a strike vote against Atlas Air and Southern Air.
“Pilots are fed up with Atlas and AAWW’s game playing and backroom corporate maneuvering to try to deny us basic workplace protections like the much-needed time to rest between international flights,” said Captain Mike Griffith, an Atlas pilot and Communications Chairman of APA Teamsters Local 1224. “We believe the federal government intervening will make sure they work with us to come to a fair contract agreement that is up to cargo industry standards.”
After its recent acquisition of Southern Air Holdings, Inc. (SAI), AAWW became affiliated with two additional carriers, Southern Air Inc., and Florida West International Airways. AAWW and Atlas Air have insisted that Atlas Air pilots stop ongoing contract negotiations and merge their contract with the Southern Air pilots’ existing contract. According to the Teamsters, this would suppress wages and lower quality of life issues for pilots at Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo, and could ultimately ripple throughout the industry.
The Southern Air contract was negotiated several years ago while Southern Air was in bankruptcy and contains wage, benefit and job protections that fall far below cargo industry standards. The current Atlas Air contract is also below industry standards, according to the union. A comparison study conducted by Teamsters Local 1224 showed that AAWW pilots are paid considerably less and work much longer hours than pilots who fly for UPS or FedEx. Pilots at Atlas, Polar and Southern reported being forced to fly long hours with minimal rest time in between flights, leading to dangerous fatigue.
AAWW’s $100 million cash acquisition this year of financially-troubled SAI was touted by the company as a positive move for both pilots and the long-term success of AAWW as the company attempts to establish its position as a leader in the cargo and express delivery markets. But the union says that AAWW wants wage concessions from Atlas Air pilots to help pay for the acquisition.
Atlas Air and Polar Air both fly under contract for DHL Express. DHL owns 49 percent of AAWW’s Polar Air Cargo and is estimated to account for more than 50 percent of Atlas Air’s business. DHL is also the exclusive customer of AAWW’s newly acquired Southern Air, Inc. Teamsters Local 1224 has raised questions regarding DHL’s behind-the-scenes role in AAWW and SAI’s affairs and has asked the Department of Transportation to intervene.
The airlines did not respond to a request for comment from Global Trade.