Mesa Pilots File Suit

Mesa’s pilot corps filed a federal lawsuit again Mesa Air Group (MESA) seeking court enforcement of the terms of its collective bargaining agreement that would reduce pilot scheduling changes. Pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), charged the company with failing to implement the provisions of a six-month-old arbitrator’s decision . This is the second volley fired by pilots in nearly as many weeks. (RAN, November 20, p.8) Frustrated over a lack of progress in reversing performance and quality problems, pilots charged management with ignoring mounting operational problems such as “broken aircraft, crew shortages, dirty cabins, delayed and cancelled flights” as the result of rapid growth. In this latest round, the pilot’s unit noted the arbitrator agreed the company violated the pilots’ collective bargaining agreement by engaging in a widespread practice of altering awarded flight schedules, re-assigning flight duties, rescheduling awarded flights and transferring flight duties among pilots. For a complete report see the December 4 issue of Regional Aviation News.