Allegiant Air pilots picket at Bellingham International, demanding fair contracts

Allegiant Air pilots nationwide have elected to picket on Tuesday as the union demands fair contracts, with one of the four locations being Bellingham International Airport.

At 10 a.m., more than 1,400 Allegiant pilots, represented by Teamsters Local 2118, will convene across 22 airport bases at locations in Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Washington, the union announced.

Allegiant Air union members to picket across the U.S. for fair contracts

Allegiant Air pilots in Washington and surrounding states will meet at the Bellingham International Airport, located at 4223 Mitchell Way.

The union claims Allegiant is losing talented pilots to competing airlines and jeopardizing local routes due to failed fair contract negotiations. Teamsters pilots are asking to be respected and fairly compensated for the work they do each day, and the picket is a reminder to the company that “without pilots, their planes don’t fly.”

Union pilots will be picketing and holding signs that say, “Allegiant Air: Bad Bets in Vegas, Bad Bets in Management” and “Allegiant Management Wastes Millions, Pilots Still Waiting.”

Media relations members with Allegiant Air told MyNorthwest that the company has provided the pilots “a competitive package” that includes an immediate 50% average increase in hourly wages that scales to 70% over the next five years, and a 50% increase in direct contribution to pilots’ retirement benefits in addition to improving long-term disability benefits, scheduling and quality of life for its employees.

“Tuesday, the members of IBT 2118 will exercise their right to conduct informational picketing,” Allegiant Air’s media team stated. “This is not a work stoppage, nor is one imminent. We are operating our full schedule and do not anticipate any disruptions related to the informational picketing. Our customers can continue to book and travel with confidence.”

A strike cannot occur until the National Mediation Board (NMB) determines whether there is an impasse in negotiations between the airline and the union. None of the conditions needed for a strike have been met, according to Allegiant Air.

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