The union for American Airlines pilots rejected the company’s contract proposal that would have given nearly 20% in raises over the next two years, the latest pushback from labor in the airline industry.
The board of directors of the Allied Pilots Association rejected the contract proposal on a 15-5 vote, days after Delta and United pilots turned down contract offers from those carriers.
The Allied Pilots Association, which represents all 15,000 pilots who fly for American Airlines, did not provide additional details about why the deal was rejected. American Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“American management has done very little to address contract provisions regarding schedule reliability and instead focused more on keeping mainline pilots’ pay increases as low as possible,” said pilots association spokesman Dennis Tajer. “Management’s failure to invest in a pilot contract that levels up to meet passenger demand only creates more uncertainty for the holiday travel season and even next summer.”
The deal is a blow to the hopes for a near-term resolution to contract turmoil at the Fort Worth-based carrier as the industry faces a shortage of pilots that is causing cutbacks at the regional level.
American Airlines reached a tentative agreement with pilots in late October, a deal that needed the approval of the union leadership and then the general membership. That tentative deal promised 12% pay raises on the date of approval followed by a 5% raise in one year and 2% in two years.
While the contract gave raises that totaled just under 20% over two years, the pilots union was pushing for changes to schedules to address “quality-of-life” issues. The union has complained that higher delay and cancellation rates have made life tough on pilots because operational disruptions often extend two- or three-day trips by an extra day or two for pilots and flight attendants.
The union wants fewer pilots put on reserve, or on call, to allow those same pilots to pick up extra flights during periods of more delays and cancellations.
American pilots’ rejection came after unions representing Delta Air Lines and United Airlines pilots turned down their own contract proposals and planned further action to escalate negotiations. Delta’s pilots authorized a strike and United pilots planned pickets across the country. Delta pilots would need federal approval before being allowed to strike.
Pilots at Dallas-based Southwest Airlines are also in contract talks, and leaders at all four major network airlines have said they are watching discussions at other companies closely, often pledging to match offers. In September, pilots at Southwest Airlines asked the federal government for help in settling contract negotiations that have dragged on over two years.
