Uncategorized
Victory at Allegiant Air
Pilots Seek Scheduling, Pension and Health Care Improvements
Seeking better pension and health care benefits and other improvements, 350 pilots at Allegiant Air have voted to join Teamsters Local 1224, the Airline Professionals Association (APA), in Wilmington, Ohio.
“With this victory, it feels like we’ve gone from nothing at all to having a brighter future,” said Capt. Gary Hawk, who has flown for Allegiant for eight years and flew for TWA for nearly 15 years before that. “We look forward to receiving the professional representation the Teamsters provide. We’re going to have more security into the future.”
Allegiant Air is a low-cost airline owned by Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Company, and employs pilots flying McDonnell Douglas MD80s and Boeing 757s. Pilots want fair work rules, improved scheduling, improved pension and health care benefits and the security of a Teamster contract. Allegiant serves small cities with limited passenger service.
“This election is a major victory for Allegiant Air pilots,” said Capt. David Bourne, Director of the Teamsters Airline Division. “The Teamsters Union stands ready to assist these pilots in securing their future with Allegiant Air. Our division continues to grow.”
Teamster Power
“The pilots of Allegiant have spoken and chosen to be represented by the Teamsters,” said Corey Berger, an Allegiant pilot. “We look forward to working with management to build a career airline and strong company. We also thank the Teamsters Airline Division, Local 1224 and the 1.4 million Teamsters for their continued support.”
Tiffany Tokar-Vlasek, who has flown for Allegiant for seven years and has been a pilot for 18 years, said she is happy to be part of an organization that fights for all workers.
“The Teamsters are an organization with a big membership of like-minded people who fight to improve the lives of workers everywhere,” she said. “The union has a huge amount of experience with tremendous resources to make sure we are protected. I am very pleased to be a Teamster.”
“I have worked hard over the years and I am very excited to have the opportunity to fly for Allegiant as a Teamster,” said Cameron Graff, who has been a pilot at Allegiant for four years. “I look forward to having job protections that come with a Teamster contract.”
“We look forward to representing the pilots of Allegiant Air as they begin negotiating their first contract,” said Daniel C. Wells, President of Local 1224. “But even beyond the scope of representation, we are excited about their future participation and professional contributions to our local and the Teamsters.”