Endeavor Air pilot leaders, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), unanimously endorsed an agreement last week to extend the current contract with the company.
The endorsement will now be sent to the pilots for a ratification vote set for late November 2017. Prior to any vote taking place, however, pilot leaders will host a number of road shows, all-pilot conference calls, and crew room visits to educate pilots on the positive aspects of the contract.
If successfully adopted, the new agreement would extend the existing contract to Jan. 1, 2024, ensuring that Endeavor’s pilots are the highest-paid in the industry.
“The gains we’ve achieved in this tentative agreement are substantial,” Capt. Jim Johnson, chairman of ALPA’s Endeavor group, said. “Not only do we have the opportunity to restore what we lost in bankruptcy, but we were able to establish hourly wage rates far above the current industry standard.”
Johnson continued, stating that the company’s pilots deserved a contract that recognized their contributions to Endeavor’s success while allowing for future growth and expansion. The goal, Johnson noted, was to achieve substantial improvement for every pilot on its seniority list, regardless of how long they have been with the airline.
“While it was not easy, I believe we accomplished that,” Johnson said.