Republic Airways Flight Service Pilots Threatened Strike

Republic Airways airline based in Indianapolis, is the parent airline that has a Chautauqua Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Republic Airlines and Shuttle America. Reportedly, Republic Airways airline service is threatened by strike pilots, because the pilot labor contract has expired.

Pilots who work for Indianapolis-based Republic Airways could go on strike soon, grounding thousands of flights.

The pilots union told 6News on Wednesday that there are three major issues in negotiations over a contract that ended four years ago.

Pilots said they want to protect their jobs from outsourcing, secure competitive pay and annual raises and get a change in scheduling.

Currently, pilots are only paid for the time they’re flying, not the hours they could be on a layover awaiting their next flight.

“I don’t want to see us go on strike. We understand if we do that we won’t receive a paycheck, and we have families to support as well and we also don’t want to hurt the company,” said Patrick Gannon, of the pilot’s union. “We want the company to be successful. We understand the more successful the company is, the more successful we are as a whole. We understand that. All we’re asking for is a fair contract.”

There is no set time for when pilots might strike. It depends on a federal mediator giving the OK, which could happen as early as next month.

Peter Kowalchuk, director of corporate communications for Republic, said Thursday that progress is being made in labor negotiations and that any potential strike wouldn’t affect holiday travel.

“Regardless of the strike vote, there’s a 30-day cooling off period, and even if they vote to strike, that wouldn’t happen until after the holidays,” Kowalchuk said.

Republic pilots fly a lot of connector flights for the major airlines, including those from Delta and United.