Pilots talk while taking a look at the tail of an American Airlines plane.
Mike Stone | Reuters
The american airlines The pilots’ union, the Allied Pilots Association, plans to vote in April on whether to permit members to go on strike as talks over a latest employment contract are underway.
The notice of the vote comes two days after American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said the airline was ready to boost pilot pay to match compensation with a rival Delta Airlineswhose pilots approved a latest contract on March 1.
“While our negotiating committee reports good progress, we remain steadfast and focused that now’s the time to succeed in an agreement with American Airlines,” he told the APA on Thursday. “The APA must also make sure that it uses all of its legal processes to terminate and improve contracts.”
Delta pilots receive a 34% raise in the brand new four-year contract, together with other enhancements. They approved a vote to permit the strike in the autumn, a couple of month before a tentative deal was made with the corporate.
Even if the APA declared a strike, it could not be immediate. Airline strikes are extremely rare within the United States and would require a lengthy trial involving federal mediators.
“We look ahead to quickly reaching an agreement with the APA in order that U.S. pilots can profit from significant improvements of their pay and quality of life,” the airline said in a press release.
