{"id":24145,"date":"2014-10-17T12:45:23","date_gmt":"2014-10-17T17:45:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smart-union.org\/?p=24145"},"modified":"2014-10-17T12:45:23","modified_gmt":"2014-10-17T17:45:23","slug":"gla-pilots-land-deal-after-years-in-holding-pattern","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smart-union.org\/gla-pilots-land-deal-after-years-in-holding-pattern\/","title":{"rendered":"GLA Pilots Land Deal After Years in Holding Pattern","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

After nearly three years of mediation with Great Lakes Airlines in conjunction with the National Mediation Board, SMART Transportation Division-represented airline pilots employed by the company have finally reached an agreement with the carrier.
\nFollowing several requests by the pilots\u2019 local representatives to the NMB to be released from mediation, the affected pilots and SMART representatives reached a tentative agreement in late June.
\nA four-year contract with significant wage increases and beneficial work-rule changes was approved Sept. 16 with 80 percent of the ballots cast in support of the deal. GO 040 General Committee of Adjustment Vice Chairperson Diane King reports that 92 percent of all eligible pilots voted.
\nGO 040 General Committee of Adjustment Chairperson Matthew Klundt said many of the GLA pilots were exasperated by the long ordeal. \u201cThe word \u2018strike\u2019 kept coming up among our members at local meetings, but we were all relieved when we saw a light at the end of the tunnel in June. I personally thank Transportation Division President John Previsich, Vice President Jeremy Ferguson and other union officers for encouraging our members to let the process play out,\u201d he said.
\nOn average, airline captains will receive an immediate 20 percent pay increase, first officers an immediate 22 percent increase, and certified airline transport pilot first officers will see an immediate 50 to 55 percent pay increase, depending on what aircraft they are operating.
\nAll Great Lakes pilots will then receive additional two to three percent wage increases each year, through 2017. Realistically, the increases will amount to about 5.5 to six percent per year with the longevity increases built into the agreement.
\nOther wage scales have also been negotiated for pilots operating jet airline service in anticipation of the carrier possibly purchasing those aircraft in the future.
\n\u201cHopefully, this will come to fruition soon as the number of passengers using Great Lakes\u2019 services has been steadily shrinking due to competition providing faster jet service,\u201d Ferguson said. \u201cThe airline\u2019s flights have also decreased due to pilot shortages created by new Federal Aviation Administration regulations which resulted in GLA pilots being recruited by larger carriers. I think this agreement is a win for both sides.\u201d
\nThe airline currently operates only Beechcraft 1900D and Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia turbo-prop aircraft with available seating ranging from nine to 30 seats.
\nThe new contract also contains the following provisions:<\/p>\n