Air Transport International (ATI) pilots are fed up with what they refer to as "stagnant contract negotiations." The pilots, who are represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 747, have voted unanimously to strike if and when they are released by the National Mediation Board.Strike ballots were counted and certified by the union this past Friday, November 7, 2008. IBT says that the ATI crew members voted "100 percent in favor of a strike job action."
ATI pilots have been in contract negotiations with management since June 2004. Negotiations have been held under the auspices of a mediator from the National Mediation Board since October 2006.
In a press release issued yesterday by the IBT, Capt. Tom Rogers, chairman of the ATI Executive Council, said, "We have willingly worked with ATI management throughout the negotiations process--it is past time for them to reciprocate. Not only are they unwilling to negotiate in good faith, but they continue to chip away at the few remaining benefits on which our crew members depend, such as home-basing."
IBT Local 747 President E.E. Sowell added, "The unanimous support for a strike by the ATI crew members, especially during an economic downturn within the airline industry, sends an unrivaled message to the management of ATI. The work ethic and productivity of this pilot group continues to be a core cause of ATI's profitability. Management's persistent unwillingness to recognize that sizable contribution will directly result in a loss for ATI and its shareholders."
Air Transport International, a subsidiary of Air Transport Services Group, Inc, is a U.S. certified air carrier offering air transportation services throughout the world for the United States Air Mobility Command (USAF AMC) and commercial customers such as BAX Global Inc and AMX Cargo.
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