Hawaii-based Airlines - Possible Hawaiian Air Pilot Strike??? [merged thread]

From today's local news:

Unionized Hawaiian Air pilots open strike preparedness center

Read here:
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200908111554/BREAKING03/90811072

I read in USAToday that there is a scheduled strike vote today. Have plans to fly HA next week, and just wondering if we will have to make alternate arrangements.

I read in USAToday that there is a scheduled strike vote today. Have plans to fly HA next week, and just wondering if we will have to make alternate arrangements.

A strike, if one ever happens, would be at least a couple or several months away due to federally imposed cooling off periods at attempts at arbitration. The current picketing is "informational" and not indicative of an immediate work stoppage. Both sides have plenty of time and motivation to reach a settlement, but I suppose anything might happen. It won't be next week, though, whatever it is.

A strike, if one ever happens, would be at least a couple or several months away due to federally imposed cooling off periods at attempts at arbitration. The current picketing is "informational" and not indicative of an immediate work stoppage. Both sides have plenty of time and motivation to reach a settlement, but I suppose anything might happen. It won't be next week, though, whatever it is.


Thanks for the info. It's been tough to find anything on the labor negotations.

No wonder those tickets for October were so cheap. I wish we had waited and bought AS tickets. :( Please keep us all posted.

HA's gotta take care of its pilots...


The Hawaiian Airlines branch of the Air Line Pilots Association said today that 98 percent of its 400 pilots authorized a strike.

"This vote should be a wake-up call to Hawaiian Airlines management," Capt. Eric Sampson, chairman of the ALPA unit at Hawaiian Air, said in a statement posted on the ALPA Web site.

"There has never been a strike in the 80-year history of our airline, and we don't want one now. But if that's what it takes to win a fair and reasonable contract, our pilots have told us loud and clear that they're ready to take that final step."
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090911/BREAKING01/90911019/Hawaiian+Air+pilots+authorize+strike

Let's see what happens here...

HA's gotta take care of its pilots...


http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090911/BREAKING01/90911019/Hawaiian+Air+pilots+authorize+strike

Let's see what happens here...

Wow... didn't realize they were trying to negotiate a new contract... I'm sure the low fares induced by YV sure don't help out HA's bottom line, so HA can't offer its pilots enough...

HI isn't exactly the cheapest place to live... are most HA pilots based out of HI? Or do they commute from the lower 48?

Also...

AS had some labor issues a couple years back, with what appeared to be work slowdowns and possible sickouts... lets just say AS' ontime performance tanked... (They were also trying to do WN style turns <short> :eek:)

It would be rather ironic if HA's ontime performance were to drop due to the labor issues, and AS came up on top! (AS' if you haven't noticed, has been catching up... not quite to HA's 93%... but in the upper 80%'s... :cool:)

Has anyone heard of a possible strike soon? If so, when might it start? I sure hope that the pilots get a good and reasonable contract after all this time.

This story pretty much sums it all up.

http://www.kitv.com/money/21433208/detail.html

This story pretty much sums it all up.

http://www.kitv.com/money/21433208/detail.html

Interesting...

Wonder how much is caused by the new A/C type coming in 2010 IIRC...?

So what should one do if they do strike in Nov/Dec and you have tickets for that period? Can all pilots strike at the same time, meaning no flights to mainland whatsoever? Is there anything I can do now to make sure I make my trip?

So what should one do if they do strike in Nov/Dec and you have tickets for that period? Can all pilots strike at the same time, meaning no flights to mainland whatsoever? Is there anything I can do now to make sure I make my trip?
As of right now, if you're truly concerned of an imminent strike and not being able to find availability if there is indeed such a strike, you can purchase a fully refundable (make sure it's fully refundable) ticket on Island Air or go!. Cancel that ticket before you fly and get a refund if there is indeed no strike.

Thank you for the reply slippahs. I'm actually doing a r/t hnl-lax-hnl so am wondering if the mainland flights will be heavily impacted. Inter-island, no problem. Costs aren't as high as to the mainland. Just don't know if I can afford getting other flight ressies, just in case. Do you think that they will cancel all flights or try and consolidate what they have so to at least have one r/t per day to lax?

Thank you for the reply slippahs. I'm actually doing a r/t hnl-lax-hnl so am wondering if the mainland flights will be heavily impacted. Inter-island, no problem. Costs aren't as high as to the mainland. Just don't know if I can afford getting other flight ressies, just in case. Do you think that they will cancel all flights or try and consolidate what they have so to at least have one r/t per day to lax?

It's hard to say, as HA has never had a pilot's strike. If there have ever been partial pilot strikes, I can't remember any. I would count on no flights if there is a strike.

"It just seems like management does not want to honor their promises to reward us when times got better," said Eric Sampson, of Hawaiian Air's ALPA group. - from the article.

I'm on Maui right now. If times are better, you sure couldn't tell from talking to the people here. Hope they can get this worked out on terms that both sides can live with.

Does anyone know what the earliest date that a strike could happen?

If not can anyone suggest how/where I might find out?

I have a rez for Nov 29 and I am not sure if the 30 day cooling off period has begun yet.

Yep, I'm getting somewhat concerned, too. :eek:

So I sent an email to the ALPA (pilots' union) to ask what might be the earliest date a strike could occur. The reply, dated Nov 4, 2009 was:

" Thank you for contacting communications@alpa.org. Airline pilot contract negotiations are governed by the Railway Labor Act. The pilots at Hawaiian have voted to give their elected leadership the right to declare a strike, when and if the circumstances are appropriate. However, the law requires that a specific process be followed.

At this point in the negotiations, the National Mediation Board would have to release the pilots and management into what's called a 30-day cooling-off period. During that time, the two sides would continue to negotiate to reach a deal, because neither side wants a strike. After the 30-days, barring other possibilities, the pilots would be allowed to declare a strike. if they chose to do so.

When or if the National Mediation Board declares a 30-day cooling-off period is anyone's guess, but it's reasonable to deduce that nothing will happen in the next couple of months. We hope that this is helpful."

Thank you for going out of your way and checking on this, donnyb. I'm feeling a little better about the trip in December. I'd hate to see them strike but I can understand... JUST NOT DURING MY TRIP! :D

Any current up-dates on this?

http://www.starbulletin.com/business/20091117_Clock_is_ticking_on_pilot_deal.html

I would gather from that article the earliest they could strike (theoretically) is mid January. Week of Dec 7th, +/-, plus 30 day cooling off period...

I would gather from that article the earliest they could strike (theoretically) is mid January. Week of Dec 7th, +/-, plus 30 day cooling off period...

I am not aware about HA will not able to be on strike. What is deal going on for those passengers will have to flying to Hawaii during leisure vacations or business traveler. Do you really think HA will goes on vote to decide to be in negotiations from CEO. If they will have to contract deal agreements. It will not to be on strike. Its depends with the pilots is their own decisions whether if they will have to be vote. If they are in negotiations contract deal from pilots unions agreements. If the pilots will have to be finalization approval from HA managements.

I am not aware about HA will not able to be on strike. What is deal going on for those passengers will have to flying to Hawaii during leisure vacations or business traveler. Do you really think HA will goes on vote to decide to be in negotiations from CEO. If they will have to contract deal agreements. It will not to be on strike. Its depends with the pilots is their own decisions whether if they will have to be vote. If they are in negotiations contract deal from pilots unions agreements. If the pilots will have to be finalization approval from HA managements.

The pilots have the right to strike after:
Following all the proper procedures for negotiations, and not being able to agree with airline management.

Obviously we want them to come to an agreement but since many of us have flight plans, I was just trying to point out if we are flying anytime before mid-January we are most likely not at risk for flight cancellation.

The pilots have the right to strike after:
Following all the proper procedures for negotiations, and not being able to agree with airline management.

Obviously we want them to come to an agreement but since many of us have flight plans, I was just trying to point out if we are flying anytime before mid-January we are most likely not at risk for flight cancellation.

Yes, this is real problems where these passengers are stranded due to pilots on strike. It will have to beef up more increase the capacity passengers out of HNL. Airlines should have to be consider to bring more inter-islands flight. Hopefully if the pilots will have to be agreements from HA managements. If they won't have any necessary for HA pilots. However, if they are agreements from pilots unions. it will bring back to normal routine. It will be approximately 30 to 60 days in advance. If they will try to vote the pilots are not to be on strike or not. Its dependable for pilots are already in negotiations deal.