Pilots discuss as they have a look at the tail of an American Airways plane at Dallas-Ft Price Worldwide Airport.
Mike Stone | Reuters
American Airways pilots have voted overwhelmingly to permit their labor union to name a strike whereas the service mentioned talks for a brand new contract are getting near a conclusion.
Pilot strikes are uncommon and would require permission from the federal Nationwide Mediation Board. The vote doesn’t suggest a call to name a strike would occur instantly.
Greater than 96% of American’s pilots participated within the vote and 99% of them voted to permit the union to name a strike, the Allied Pilots Affiliation mentioned Monday.
The APA known as the strike authorization vote in March as talks for a brand new deal dragged on. American Airways CEO Robert Isom had mentioned the airline was prepared to lift pay to match rival Delta Air Strains, whose pilots permitted a four-year deal earlier this 12 months with 34% raises and different enhancements.
“Right this moment marks a proud milestone in our pilot group’s unity and resolve and an necessary step on our path to securing the contract we’ve got earned and deserve — one that stops administration from working at a reduction to our opponents and contains our ‘should have’ quality-of-life priorities,” APA president Capt. Ed Sicher wrote to pilots Monday.
A spokeswoman for American Airways mentioned the service believes a deal is “inside attain” and {that a} “handful” of points are left to finish.
“The end line is in sight,” she mentioned in a press release. “We perceive {that a} strike authorization vote is without doubt one of the necessary methods pilots specific their need to get a deal carried out and we respect the message of voting outcomes.”
Together with greater 401(ok) contributions, on the finish of a possible four-year deal at American, a captain flying narrow-body planes would make $475,000 on the high of the dimensions whereas probably the most senior captains of wide-body planes would make $590,000 per 12 months, primarily based on a current contract proposal.
Pilot contract talks have been tough all through the trade, together with at American, United Airways and Southwest Airways, as pilots search not solely will increase in pay however quality-of-life enhancements similar to higher, extra predictable schedules as journey demand improves following the pandemic.
