Allegiant pilots have overwhelmingly voted to strike, the Teamsters union said in a press release. The airline’s 1,300 pilots have been in negotiations for nearly four years, securing a short-term contract extension in 2023.
With 97.4% of pilots voting to strike, the union says they are “fed up.” The union and airline have been in federally mediated talks with the National Mediation Board.
“We refuse to trade quality of life for a subpar pay raise,” said Capt. Michael Nichols, an Allegiant Teamsters pilot, in the Thursday release. “This strike vote is about the viability of Allegiant and the communities we serve – without an industry-standard contract, we will not be able to attract and retain pilots.”
An Allegiant spokesperson told the Des Moines Register that the company has offered pilots an average 70% wage increase over five years. In addition, the carrier has provided a “significant increase” in retirement benefits and scheduling.
“It’s typical in our industry to have a strike authorization vote and it doesn’t necessarily mean it will happen. I think it’s an important part of the process for labor to come together,” said Allegiant President Greg Anderson during a third-quarter earnings call. “In terms of where we’re at, we have and we will continue to work in good faith throughout the mediation process.”
Even with last week’s vote, a strike is not immediately imminent. The airline and union would be subject to release from federal mediation, triggering a 30-day cooling-off period.
