Pilots talk as they give the impression of being on the tail of an American Airlines aircraft.
Mike Stone | Reuters
The American Airlines pilots union, the Allied Pilots Association, plans to vote in April on whether to permit members to call a strike as talks for a latest labor contract proceed.
The vote notice comes two days after American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said the carrier is ready to lift pilot pay to match compensation at rival Delta Air Lines, whose pilots approved their latest contract 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,” the APA said Thursday. “APA must also ensure it utilizes all its legal processes for contract resolution and improvement.”
Delta’s pilots are getting 34% raises in the brand new four-year deal, alongside other improvements. They’d approved a strike authorization vote in the autumn, a few month before reaching a preliminary cope with the corporate.
Even when the APA called a strike it might not be immediate. Airline strikes are extremely rare within the U.S. and would follow a lengthy process involving federal mediators.
“We look ahead to reaching an agreement with APA quickly in order that American’s pilots can profit from meaningful enhancements to their pay and quality of life,” the airline said in a press release.
