NEWS: Comair Pilots Set the Bar

Comair pilots, represented by ALPA, approved modifications to their current contract that will include a pay freeze. The approval margin was 61%. The crux of the deal is that the pilots will give up their scheduled 4.5% pay increase this year as long as the airline agrees to turn that money around and start bringing new jets on line no later that June 22. Comair has said that they would like to bring up to 35 new jets into the fleet. The airline is still negotiating with its flight attendants and mechanics. The mechanics recently turned down a deal that would have given them a small raise.

Its always a good thing when an airline can get at least one of its unions to see the logic of the situation and come to an agreement. The first deal struck often sets the bar for the remaining unions. I wonder if the mechanics are calling their union reps asking for another look at the pay raise they just turned down.