Aloha Pilots Authorize Strike

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.sunherald.com/447/story/512508.html

Posted on Thu, Apr. 24, 2008

By Air Line Pilots Association, International

HONOLULU, April 24 --
Aloha pilots voted on Wednesday night to give its local leadership, the Aloha Airlines Master Executive Council (MEC) of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), the right to call a strike, if and when it becomes absolutely necessary.

"A strike is the last thing we want and we will exhaust every opportunity -- negotiating with management, using federal mediators, going through bankruptcy court facilitation --- to avoid calling a strike. We're simply asking, just like our contract now provides, that management makes sure that Aloha pilots continue to fly our airplanes if the cargo division is sold to a new operator," said Aloha MEC Chairman David Bird. Ninety percent of those eligible pilots attending a special meeting voted to authorize the strike.

The vote comes just days after ALPA filed a complaint in U.S. Bankruptcy Court seeking injunctive relief against Aloha Airlines management for repudiating the pilots' collective bargaining agreement since it filed for bankruptcy in March.

"We're tired of management painting us as the bad guys. David Banmiller (president and CEO of Aloha Airlines) is still getting paid and no doubt will seek big bonuses, too. Our pilots were terminated out of the blue and haven't received the contract-required furlough pay, retirement contributions, or medical coverage," said Capt. John Riddel, MEC secretary-treasurer. "Over the past three years, we approved pay cuts, relinquished our retirement plan, and provided other concessions to ensure this company's survival. We just want to keep our jobs if the company is sold," Riddel continued.

Aloha filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 20, 2008, and abruptly ceased its passenger service on March 31 after 61 years of service. Aloha continues to operate its cargo service, which it is preparing to sell. ALPA has been trying to negotiate with management to provide a smooth transition before, during, and after the sale of the cargo division, but Aloha management has not responded to an April 7 proposal.

FULL story at link.