Three-plus years and plenty of contentious bargaining sessions later, pilots for Allegiant Air finally have a contract.
Allegiant pilots, represented by Teamsters Local 1224, have won their first union contract with the airline. The Teamsters pilots' bargaining committee reached a tentative agreement with company executives and negotiators for a new collective bargaining agreement on Tuesday.
Teamsters and company negotiators have agreed to meet next week to finalize the contract language.
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The tentative agreement includes significant compensation, retirement and medical benefit increases, improved scheduling rules and procedures, strong job protections, and other important work rule enhancements.
The specific details of the tentative agreement will first be disclosed to and discussed with Allegiant pilots. Allegiant Air pilots will vote whether to approve the agreement in a secret ballot referendum that will be conducted in late July, though that appears to be just a formality.
Captain Scott Whitman, the Allegiant Air pilots' negotiating committee chairman expressed confidence that the contract improvements will be well received by the pilots.
"Since we voted to join Teamsters Local 1224 in 2012, we have been committed to working with the company to reach a contract that fairly rewards the pilots for their vital contribution to the company's operations and success," he said in a statement. "Our tentative agreement with the company meets that objective, and I believe the pilots will be proud to work under it."
"The Allegiant Air pilots have demonstrated tremendous determination and resilience over the last several turbulent years," Teamsters Local 1224 President Daniel C. Wells said in a statement. "The Allegiant Air pilots' professionalism, courage and unity in the face of adversity is truly remarkable, and they have earned the respect of their fellow pilots throughout the industry. Their resolve and the tentative agreement that they have now secured show that when airline pilots stand together, we can win real changes that help improve the passenger experience and the company's bottom line, as well as our ability to support our families."
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