Pilots with Allegiant Airlines voted Thursday to authorize a strike.
They say they were asked to make unfair concessions in exchange for raises, according to a news release from Teamsters Local 2118.
“We’re fed up and this strike authorization vote shows that,” said pilot David Mercado in the release.
The airline and the union confirmed they are in mediation talks with the National Mediation Board.
The union can’t strike unless the mediation board agrees there’s been an impasse, releases both parties from mediation, allows for a 30-day cooling off period and then determines all bargaining procedures have been exhausted, according to a statement from Allegiant spokeswoman Sonya Padgett.
“A strike authorization vote does not mean a strike is imminent or that one will occur at all,” she said.
Allegiant has 10 nonstop destinations from Lehigh Valley International Airport, the most of any airline from the airport in Hanover Township, Lehigh County.
The pilots say they’re “among the most overworked and underpaid in the airline industry,” according to the news release from the union. They seek “industry-standard compensation” and improvements to scheduling. They claim the airline has tried to extract concessions in exchange for pay raises.
The airline has offered an immediate average increase in hourly wages of 50% with an average 70% increase over five years, Padgett said. They’ve also offered a significant increase in retirement benefits, long term disability, and extensive scheduling and quality of life improvements, she said.
“We look forward to completing this process to ensure our pilots receive an agreement they can be proud of,” Padgett said.
The contract affects 1,300 pilots, according to the union.
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Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com.