Teamsters rally against Republic Airways

Teamsters Local 357 in Plainfield have filed a lawsuit against Republic Airways for unilaterally changing pilots' working conditions regarding "open time" flying without first agreeing the same with the union. More than 2,200 Republic pilots are members of Local 357. The lawsuit asserts that the company has made unlawful alterations to working conditions and that they took place even while the items changed were the subject of ongoing bargaining between Local 357 and Republic. The purpose of the lawsuit is to compel Republic's compliance with its lawful duties under the Railway Labor Act (RLA). To uphold the principle that Republic can only make changes to the pilots' agreement through the bargaining process, Local 357 filed a lawsuit in the US District Court in Indianapolis seeking injunctive relief, declaratory judgment and other appropriate relief against the company's unlawful changes in the status quo of pilot contractual rates of pay, rules and working conditions. There is no strike or other such action planned by pilots at this time.