“We’ve been in negotiations for three and a half years.”

Allegiant pilots continue negotiations

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — Allegiant Air and Teamsters Local 2118, which is representing Allegiant pilots, have been in negotiations for a few years.

Now the pilots have voted to strike if an agreement is not met soon which could mean a potential strike during the holiday season.

“We’ve been in negotiations for three and a half years,” said Captain J. R. Lynch, the Chief of Staff for the negotiation committee. “It starts like most negotiations start, contracts under the ‘Railroad Labor Act’ are amendable contracts. So, every several years they become amendable. Ours became amendable in 2021 and we’ve been negotiating for a new contract ever since.”

Captain Lynch, a pilot for Allegiant Air, says the last contract was signed in 2016. He says that negotiations have gone on longer than expected, but Teamsters are fighting to get the pilots what they deserve.

Some of the major factors in the negotiations are compensation and standard working conditions.

“Allegiant has claimed they’ve made some generous offers to the pilot groups, talking about 50% raises and things of that sort. And even with those 50% wages our wages would still be up to 30% behind our nearest peers. Which is unacceptable for a pilot group that has led this company to industry leading profits for the last several years and counting.”

Lynch says pilots are still waiting on promises from the 2016 contract, such as a new scheduling system.

“The pilots are ready to walk out as soon as we are given the legal authorization to do so. We’re serious about doing it if that’s what it takes to get the contract that shows that this airline values what we contribute.”

Both Teamsters and Allegiant are hopeful a deal can be meet soon, especially before the holidays.

However, Lynch says pilots are ready to go on strike if needed or leave for another airline.