INDIANAPOLIS - When you fly out of Indianapolis, you're likely flying on a Republic Airlines plane even though you'll see the Frontier Airlines or US Airways logo painted on the side of the plane. Now an issue with Republic Airlines could affect those flights.
The Republic Airlines pilots union has taken a strike authorization vote, and turnout has been extraordinary. They have concerns about safety, training and salaries.
Some 2,200 pilots across the United States fly connecting flights to regional cities like Indianapolis. Republic Airlines pilots have been flying without a contract since 2007, which means they haven't had a pay raise since then.
Republic Airlines union captain Patrick Gannon says the pilots want the company to turn a profit, but they want to keep flight crews and passengers safe in the process.
"We're not trying to break the bank. We understand the company needs to be successful in order for us to be successful. We also understand the economy right now and a lot of people are out of jobs. We don't take for granted the fact that we have jobs. We're very thankful to have jobs. But that doesn't mean we should be walked all over and we should just say, 'Okay, we have a job, so you can pay us poverty wages,'" said Gannon.
"We have pilots who can actually make more on unemployment than they can flying you around the country," he added.
In an interview earlier this year, Gannon said five-year first officers make $30,000 a year.
The strike authorization will continue until Nov. 22. It would give the union the power to issue a strike. A national mediator will then step in for a 30-day cooling-off period. If during that time the company won't come to the table, a strike could happen as soon as December.
http://www.wthr.com
The Republic Airlines pilots union has taken a strike authorization vote, and turnout has been extraordinary. They have concerns about safety, training and salaries.
Some 2,200 pilots across the United States fly connecting flights to regional cities like Indianapolis. Republic Airlines pilots have been flying without a contract since 2007, which means they haven't had a pay raise since then.
Republic Airlines union captain Patrick Gannon says the pilots want the company to turn a profit, but they want to keep flight crews and passengers safe in the process.
"We're not trying to break the bank. We understand the company needs to be successful in order for us to be successful. We also understand the economy right now and a lot of people are out of jobs. We don't take for granted the fact that we have jobs. We're very thankful to have jobs. But that doesn't mean we should be walked all over and we should just say, 'Okay, we have a job, so you can pay us poverty wages,'" said Gannon.
"We have pilots who can actually make more on unemployment than they can flying you around the country," he added.
In an interview earlier this year, Gannon said five-year first officers make $30,000 a year.
The strike authorization will continue until Nov. 22. It would give the union the power to issue a strike. A national mediator will then step in for a 30-day cooling-off period. If during that time the company won't come to the table, a strike could happen as soon as December.
http://www.wthr.com
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