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Pilots are claiming Atlas Air’s decision to seek an injunction against industrial action is evidence of the carrier’s efforts to “reject responsibility around declining pilot supply”.
In a complaint filed at the District Court of Columbia on Monday, the US-based carrier accuses unionised workers at both Atlas and subsidiary Polar Air Cargo of engaging in “illegal” slowdowns.
Daniel Wells, president of APA Teamsters Local 1224, which represents pilots from Atlas Air, Southern Air and Polar Air, said the union was reviewing the details of the complaint.
But he said: “Our initial assessment suggests it is part of Atlas’s ongoing efforts to abdicate responsibility for its failures and a refusal to address the long-expected decline in global pilot supply.
“Meanwhile, Atlas has intentionally expanded its flying operations, all while pretending that it has the staffing capacity to do so.”
Mr Wells said that, as a result, the “criticism and scrutiny” from both customers and the public should be “no surprise” to the carrier.
“Our customers deserve real, comprehensive solutions and we are disappointed that, rather than facing reality, Atlas would prefer to shift blame for its mismanagement onto the pilots,” he added.
However, the carrier said industrial action was resulting in “significant” network disruption and was a ploy to gain the upper hand in contract negotiations.
Earlier this year, pilots claimed operational risks at the carrier were intensifying amid a “worsening” pilot shortage that would undermine Atlas’s ability to deliver for major customers like Amazon.
One, Captain Robert Kirchner, said: “The situation at Atlas is a ticking time bomb and unless management confronts the issues threatening our carriers, the outlook for the busy fourth quarter is bleak.
“We’ve seen a record number of pilots leave in 2017, and years-long delays in contract negotiations. Sub-standard pay and benefits have left our carriers ill-equipped to compete in the market.
“The time for delays and denial is over, and Atlas needs to work with us on an industry-competitive pilot contract and other much-needed solutions to our staffing and operational problems.”
Atlas president and chief executive William Flynn said the company had entered into a framework agreement with the pilots to return to negotiations.
However, alongside the legal filing, Mr Flynn added: “The US military, businesses across the globe and millions of people depend on the stability, reliability and viability of Atlas operations. We value our commitment to our customers and the passengers and cargo entrusted to us, and we must, therefore protect the service quality we provide to our customers.”
Atlas claimed the union had violated its ‘status quo’ obligations under the Rail Labour Act by encouraging the slowdown and failing to prevent and discourage it.
Comment on this article
Anonymous
September 27, 2017 at 4:48 pmThe only thing the union has ever done is actively encourage us to enforce the CBA and the regs. They have never encouraged anyone to act outside of the CBA or the regs or to engage in a slow-down of any kind (unless abiding by the CBA and the regs constitutes a slow-down). The company, in turn, repeatedly encourages violations of the CBA. I agree that there is a status quo violation but it’s not from us. It’s like the two of us are standing in an elevator, they passed gas, then turned to us and said, “Dude, really?”
Anonymous
September 27, 2017 at 6:26 pmThis is the 3rd time this company is suing its pilot group in less than a year. They aren’t negotiating a new industry standard contract in good faith, instead they keep blaming their employees for their complete lack of leadership. The only thing these “business men” are doing is stuff their pockets with the profits that many people have worked hard for years in order to bring this company where it is today, and they also keep their lawyers rich and busy by suing their own employees. What a shame!