Mesa Pilots Ratify Contract

Mesa’s 1,300 pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), ratified a new 24-month labor contract. A key provision in the contract, which won 51 percent of the vote, is a preferential bidding system allowing crews more schedule control.
"This new agreement represents a step forward for all Mesa pilots," said Capt. Kevin Wilson, chairman of the ALPA unit at Mesa. "No concessions were made for this contract, which is no small feat, given the state of our company and the industry. Thanks to our negotiators and the support of ALPA, we were able to achieve significant quality of life and other improvements at or above industry average." He pointed out, however, that much work remains to be done since a large portion of the pilot corps still distrusts the company as evidenced by the small majority win at a time when nearly 77 percent of eligible pilots voted. The contract calls for a revisit in 21 months time to bargain on more improvements, at which time they hope the company will be healthier.