ATI pilots request arbitration over contract negotiations

The potential for strike action at Air Transport International (ATI) edged closer this week when pilots requested the US National Mediation Board (NMB) declare an impasse and move to arbitration.

Pilot union the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) said that the move was a first step in pursuing a legal strike as the two parties struggle to reach an agreement on a new contract.

Before a strike can take place, the NMB must first decide that additional mediation efforts would not be productive and offer the parties an opportunity to arbitrate the contract dispute.

If either side declines the arbitration, both parties enter a 30-day “cooling off” period, after which the parties can engage in self-help — a strike by the union or a lockout by management.

In November, 98% of the airline’s members participated in a vote to authorise strike action, with 99.7% voting in favour.

Mike Sterling, chair of the ATI ALPA master executive council, said: “For three and half years we have been working to reach an agreement.

“Requesting release to strike is an unfortunate but necessary step at this point. All of our pilots are taking these negotiations very seriously—seriously enough to strike for what we deserve—even if management is not.”

Sterling added that pilots had invested heavily in growing the airline since it began operations for Amazon in 2015 and had delivered record reliability during the 2023 peak season.

ALPA added that the last two years had seen pilot groups across the industry achieve “significant gains” in contract negotiations.

The Wilmington, Ohio-based, Air Transport Services Group-owned (ATSG) cargo airline is used by Amazon Air and DHL amongst other companies.

Air Transport International pilots support strike authorisation