Detroit/ Community & Society
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Published on November 10, 2024
Allegiant Air Pilots Rally for Standard Contracts, Strike Authorization Looms Over Holiday Travel SeasonSource: Tomás Del Coro, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Pilot tensions are high at Allegiant Air as they demand industry-standard contracts through concerted efforts, including picketing and the recent move toward authorizing a strike. Citing four years of negations without resolution, pilots picketed at Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, where FOX 17 reported pilot Aaron Adrian stated, "As the professional pilots of Allegiant Air, it's time to seal this deal and get the contract done." Under the Teamsters Union, the pilots are engaged in discussions with the National Mediation Board centered on service hours and scheduling.

The call for fair treatment and industry standards mirrors concerns expressed across the pilots' community, and the overwhelming consensus shone through with 97% of Teamsters Union pilots across the U.S. approving the strike, the potential impact of which could be felt during the upcoming holiday travel season. Teamsters Local 2118 illustrated their stance on their website, declaring that pilot working conditions are not for sale, according to a statement detailed by WZZM13, and strike authorization does not necessarily forecast an imminent strike but empowers the union to call one under lawful conditions, as Allegiant, in the throes of mediation through the National Mediation Board, aims to convey the notion that negotiations are ongoing and not stagnant.

Allegiant Airlines is working to agree with its pilots, offering higher wages and better benefits. However, the pilots' union pushes for fairer scheduling and pay that matches industry standards. This ongoing disagreement could lead to a work stoppage, potentially disrupting travel for Thanksgiving and Christmas. "Allegiant remains committed to negotiating in good faith," affirmed Sonya Padgett, Allegiant Travel Co.'s director of corporate communications, as reported by WZZM13, a sentiment they hope will resonate loud enough to avert the strike hovering over holiday plans.