The Teamsters union representing pilots who fly and have flown for Republic Airways and Cape Air have taken to litigation to roll back non-compete clauses that impose penalties starting from $100,000 to $250,000 for leaving for one more airline in the primary three years of employment. That is after Republic Airways sued 12 former trainee pilots who left the airline before their bonuses tied to commitments ended.
Teamsters assert noncompete clause is prohibited
The premise for the lawsuit, in keeping with Josh LeBlanc, President of Teamsters Local 357 and a Republic Airways pilot, is that the contract has illegal terms of employment. As LeBlanc explained in a June 9 statement;
“The contracts that pilots at these two corporations are forced to sign as a condition of employment are illegal and we fully expect to win in court. These punishing non-compete agreements usually are not an answer for the labor supply problem that these employers created of their very own accord.”
When the contract was announced, the Teamsters made clear they might pursue litigation. The Teamsters are upset not only by the $100,000 high quality but in addition if a pilot resigns before three years of flying for Republic Airways or Cape Air, they can’t fly for a competitor for a 12 months.
As Joe Muckle, President of Teamsters Local 1224 which represents not only Cape Air but in addition ABX Air, Horizon Air, Omni Air, and Silver Airways, explained in the identical June 9 statement;
If these corporations are having a tough time recruiting pilots, then they need to do what nearly every other airline has done in a competitive job market – increase wages and advantages. Attempting to retain skilled pilots by handcuffing them with bogus contracts is prohibited and bad business, which is why no other airline is doing this. The Teamsters will fight this with the complete force of our union.
Teamsters also object to reducing training requirements
In a May 19, 2022, statement, Muckle – who is also a US Air Force veteran who served in Desert Storm and ended his military profession within the Latest Jersey Air National Guard as an instructor pilot within the KC-135E – made clear that the 1,500 hours of flight time requirement was idea despite the pilot shortage. As Muckle explained;
“Republic’s program is narrowly geared toward training pilots in a highly-automated cockpit and just can’t be in comparison with the rigorous training and situational experience garnered through the USA military. We urge the FAA to reject any requests for exemption which have the potential to degrade aviation safety by reducing required pilot experience to operate industrial aircraft and by establishing a pathway for others to follow. This might impact aviation safety for a long time to come back.”
Photo: Republic Airways
This resistance to lowering requirements for pilots has led Republic Airways to hunt other options to fill its E175 cockpits. This features a training academy – LIFT Academy – and agreements with its mainline airline partners to interview Republic Airways pilots after 2 years of service as a captain.
Cape Air and Republic Airways US regional airlines of note
It’s price noting that each Cape Air and Republic Airways are US-based regional airlines. Such regional airlines have felt the pilot shortage very hard as mainline airlines recruit from the regional airlines.
Cape Air operates a fleet of twin-engine Cessna 402 Aircraft on the east coast of the US. Photo: Cape Air
Regional airline Cape Air has a headquarters in Hyannis, Massachusetts, that uses small aircraft just like the Cessna 402C and the more modern Tecnam P2012 Traveller to attach small US airports to major ones. Cape Air flies greater than 400 regional flights a day to just about 40 cities within the Northeast, Midwest, Montana, and the tropics of the Caribbean.
Meanwhile, Republic Airways is predicated in Indianapolis, Indiana and flies over 1,000 flights per day to 100 cities across 40 US states, Canada, Central America, and the Caribbean with Embraer E170 & E175 regional jets. Because the airline is using regional jets on a contract basis for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines – the airline has to fret about hiring and retaining pilots in a really competitive environment.
Photo: Republic Airways
Sadly, Republic Airways was unable to reply to a request for comment by publication time.
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