Pilots discuss as they have a look at the tail of an American Airways plane at Dallas-Ft Value Worldwide Airport.
Mike Stone | Reuters
American Airways pilots have voted overwhelmingly to permit their labor union to name a strike whereas the provider 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 does not imply a choice 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 referred to 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 boost pay to match rival Delta Air Traces, whose pilots accepted a four-year deal earlier this yr with 34% raises and different enhancements.
“In the present day marks a proud milestone in our pilot group’s unity and resolve and an necessary step on our path to securing the contract now we have earned and deserve — one that forestalls administration from working at a reduction to our opponents and contains our ‘will need to have’ quality-of-life priorities,” APA president Capt. Ed Sicher wrote to pilots Monday.
A spokeswoman for American Airways mentioned the provider 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 likely one of the necessary methods pilots categorical their need to get a deal carried out and we respect the message of voting outcomes.”
Together with greater 401(okay) 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 essentially the most senior captains of wide-body planes would make $590,000 per yr, based mostly on a latest contract proposal.
Pilot contract talks have been troublesome all through the business, together with at American, United Airways and Southwest Airways, as pilots search not solely will increase in pay however quality-of-life enhancements equivalent to higher, extra predictable schedules as journey demand improves following the pandemic.
