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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Hawaiian Airlines pilots out picketing


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Hawaiian Airlines pilots stage an informational picket line outside the company's ticket lobby at Honolulu International Airport today.

RICHARD AMBO | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Hawaiian Airlines pilots stage an informational picket line today. They also plan to take a strike authorization vote.

RICHARD AMBO | The Honolulu Advertiser

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HONOLULU — Hawaiian Airlines pilots scheduled a strike authorization vote for Tuesday, the same day informational picketing by their union begins at the interisland terminal of Honolulu International Airport.

If approved, the pilots would authorize the Air Line Pilots Association, International, to call a strike if the federal government gives the legal go-ahead. The voting ends Sept. 10.
“These tactics are not unusual at this point in labor negotiations,” airline spokesman Keoni Wagner said. “They will have no effect on our operations.”
The airline and the union, which represents more than 400 pilots, said Monday that progress was made last week in contract negotiations involving federal mediators in Washington.
“Progress is being made and was made in the most recent round of negotiations, and more meetings have been scheduled for October,” Wagner said.
“While progress was made, Hawaiian management still insists that any salary increases over 1 percent, or other contract gains, be paid for by pilots making offsetting concessions elsewhere in the contract,” the union said. “Based on the airline’s outstanding financial performance and the record bonuses management received last year, this lack of substantial movement has forced the pilots to call for a strike authorization vote.
Earlier this month, the pilots opened what they call a “strategic preparedness center” near the airport.
The union has said the center would be used to coordinate phone banks, picketing and other operations should the National Mediation Board release the pilot group from mediation and declare an impasse.
Contract talks have been going on for two years. The pilots’ current contract was negotiated in 2005 before Hawaiian emerged from bankruptcy.