American Airways pilot union prepares to hunt federal mediation in contract talks

American Airways‘ pilot union is taking steps towards searching for federal mediation in contract negotiations as talks with the nation’s largest provider drag on, based on a word from the labor group.

The Allied Pilots Affiliation, which represents some 15,000 American Airways aviators, mentioned in a message to pilots final week that its board unanimously authorised a movement for the union to organize an software for Nationwide Mediation Board intervention in its talks with the corporate, although it had not filed as of Monday afternoon.

The union’s potential request that the Nationwide Mediation Board intervene comes greater than three months after American CEO Robert Isom supplied pilots 17% raises in a brand new contract proposal.

Main pilot teams across the U.S., which additionally embody these at Southwest, United, Delta and FedEx, have struggled to achieve agreements as they search pay will increase amid excessive inflation and higher schedules after a rollercoaster pandemic that noticed flight hours slashed after which surge.

A number of teams have already turned to mediation. Pilots for these carriers have been picketing in latest months.

Compensation and a few working circumstances are amongst points nonetheless up within the air with American, APA spokesman Dennis Tajer mentioned.

Alaska Airways mentioned Monday that its pilots members ratified a brand new three-year contract, together with wage will increase of as much as 23%, making the Seattle-based airline an outlier amongst main carriers in reaching an settlement.

American did not instantly remark. The provider stories quarterly outcomes and its demand outlook earlier than the market opens on Thursday.