Pinnacle Airlines Files Suit Against ALPA, Cites Bad-Faith Bargaining
MEMPHIS, TN, Jan 08, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) -- Pinnacle Airlines Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Pinnacle Airlines Corp. (NASDAQ: PNCL), has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA) citing bad-faith bargaining in contract talks that began in 2005.
"We regret having to file this lawsuit, but the union left us with no choice. On more than one occasion, we agreed to terms that the union said would result in an agreement, and then they moved the goalposts and made additional demands," said Clive Seal, Vice President and General Manager of Pinnacle Airlines Inc. "We need them to come to the table and deal fairly in a genuine effort to get a fair contract for our Pilots and their families. I believe we would have an agreement already if our Pilots had been told the truth about our offer and been allowed by the union to vote on the company proposal as we requested."

Seal said one result of the union continuing to move the goalposts is not being able to compete for new regional jet service. "The failure of ALPA to reach an agreement with Pinnacle resulted in the loss of 17 of our 50-seat jets and a chance to fly 76-seat jets for Northwest Airlines. On another occasion, one new customer removed Pinnacle from consideration for 25 new regional jets. We let the union know what was at stake on both occasions and that it was imperative that we achieve a new contract in a timely manner. The union's response was that 'it's your problem.' We have a different view. This would have meant hundreds of new jobs for all of our People, including 200 new pilot jobs and immediate upgrades for 110 first officers. Success in this industry is based on growth, and we're offering a deal with that in mind."

"We're simply saying 'shoot straight with our Pilots, share with them what we've offered, not only in formal proposals but in informal meetings where we have agreed to your requests,'" said Seal. "One-sided negotiations can't be successful."

Pinnacle Airlines has a consistent history of reaching agreements with ALPA in 1989, 1996 and 1999. In fact, Duane Woerth, then president of ALPA, was quoted following 1999 negotiations as saying: "This is an extraordinary collective bargaining success. This is the way collective bargaining should work all the time. It's a landmark and a very positive result.'' (The Commercial Appeal, May 1, 1999). The Airline recently reached an initial agreement with the Transportation Workers Union to cover its dispatchers, the United Steel Workers for its flight attendants and has made wage adjustments for all other work groups.

"We want a new contract for our Pilots. We want to be at the table and bring these negotiations to a close. We have bargained in good faith and have repeatedly responded positively to requests from the union. We have been more than fair," said Philip H. Trenary, President and CEO of Pinnacle Airlines. "All of us built this company together under the premise that we are a team, and we think it's unfair that our pilots are the only employee group that has not had a raise since 2005. Now, it's time for the union to be fair by putting union politics aside and doing what's in the best interest of our Pilots."

About Pinnacle Airlines Corp.

Pinnacle Airlines Corp., an airline holding company, is the parent company of Pinnacle Airlines Inc. and Colgan Air Inc. Pinnacle Airlines Inc. operates a fleet of 139 regional jets in the United States and Canada as Northwest Airlink and Delta Connection. Colgan Air Inc. operates a fleet of 49 regional turboprops as Continental Connection, United Express and US Airways Express. Pinnacle Airlines Corp. operating units fly over 1,000 daily flights and transport more than 10 million passengers a year to 134 cities and towns in North America. Visit www.pncl.com for more information.

Contact:
Joe Williams
901-346-6162

SOURCE: Pinnacle Airlines

 

This is going to get ugly

 

Very ugly.

 

its funny, if management keeps on urinating on these guys and pulls stuff like this, I wonder how they would like it if everyone simply stopped going to work. I know "technically" it isnt that simple, but really just imagine if one day the pilots simply stopped going to work. It is amazing what the power of a unified work force can do. Sure you can fire em all but where do they think they are going to find pilots. By thew time they ever did PNCL would be long gone................

 

It's so despicable they're blaming the union (and subtly blaming the pilots) for losing additional flying...it's almost like they're trying to turn the pilots against the union to remove blame from themselves. Typical bs.

"...immediate upgrades for 110 first officers..."

That's a funny carrot to be waving--since (if I recall) first officers upgrade pretty much the second they have the company mins anyways.

 

Obviously I'm still with the Union no matter what kind stories managment tries to pull but there's something I've been wondering: ALPA has been in complete secrecy about negotiations and new proposals from managment. I understand that when you negotiate you don't need the general public to know many of details for the health of the negotiation, but in this case I think ALPA could communicate and inform a little bit more, specially with the pilots. If ALPA keeps pilots a little bit more in the loop, management couldn't come up with crap like this so easy. I want to be better imformed, how about you guys? what do you think?

 

A lot of times corporate management requires the union representitives to sign a letter of non disclosure, or an agreement of confidentiality. this precludes the union from telling the rank and file what the progress actually is; additionally the company does not all ways sign these "Agreements" so they then start spreading their own conjecture to "soften" the rank and file! It's an old Frank Lorenzo trick.

 

Glad to see one of our finest FedEx retirees has found a way to enjoy his golden years ! What a piece of....insert your adjective of choice.

 

They (ALPA) did exactly what you are requesting when they sent a copy of mgmt's "last, best, and final offer" to every pilot (This was about a year-a year and a half ago I believe) in order to show how mgmnt was stalling. Mgmt responded by crying foul and sending the pilots fedex letters telling of their displeasure for the union disclosing what is supposed to be non-disclosure negotiations. I feel very well informed. We get regular updates on negotiations....though they are few because of the mediation schedule being on average one session/month. I don't know about you, but I tend to get a phone call about once/week polling how I feel about negotiations and what my input would be. We've told our mec what we want and what to negotiate. It's time to let them do their jobs and for us to support them when called upon. I feel very much in the loop and well informed..at least as much as is healthy. What more could be expected or wanted?

 

If you don't feel informed, CALL ONE OF YOUR MEC/LEC VOLUNTEERS.

It is their JOB to talk to you...