Southern Air, a subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide, has been successful in a arbitration against the union that represents Southern Air’s pilots, the Airline Professionals Association, Teamsters Local 1224.
From June 12, arbitration decision orders the union to promptly proceed with contractually required negotiations for a new joint collective bargaining agreement (JCBA) in connection with the merger of Southern Air and Atlas Air.
While union leaders have said publicly that the company has delayed negotiations, the decision states that: "We can conclude with some certainty, however, that there has been a delay inspired by the Union’s misapprehension of the contractual requirements and that they must now respond vigorously to the company’s request to proceed.”
This is a positive step in the company’s goal of completing a new JCBA that increases pay for Southern Air and Atlas Air pilots as soon as possible.
“Had the union leaders honoured their contractual commitments when we announced the merger back in 2016, Southern Air and Atlas Air pilots would have already had their new contract – and a pay increase – by now,” said Atlas Air Worldwide president and chief executive officer William J. Flynn.