Posted on: Wednesday, January 12, 2005

Hawaiian pilots file objection to proposal

By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer

The union representing pilots at Hawaiian Airlines is objecting to the company's plan to emerge from bankruptcy, claiming the carrier is seeking unnecessary labor concessions.

The Hawaiian unit of the Air Line Pilots Association filed its objection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court on Monday over what a union spokesman said is a company proposal that would raise pilot costs for retirement, disability and healthcare.

Hawaiian Trustee Joshua Gotbaum said the company is asking to preserve labor costs, including substantial pilot wage increases over the past four years.

Over the past few months, Hawaiian and its employee unions have been negotiating labor contracts in an effort to help the carrier emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy after almost two years.

In the past two months, the airline reached tentative agreements with its mechanics' union, and two unions representing dispatchers and workers in accounting, reservations, customer services and ramp services.

Negotiations are continuing with three other unions representing flight attendants, computer technicians and the pilots.

The pilots union in its objection said it reached accommodation with Hawaiian over work rule and operational issues, but has not agreed to freeze labor and pension costs.

If agreements cannot be reached, the airline could ask a bankruptcy judge to extend existing contract terms for three years.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8065.