Amazon, unions and Atlas Air
05-10-2021, 11:05 AM
#1
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Amazon, unions and Atlas Air
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...-amazon-unions
Excerpt:
Excerpt:
As Amazon has aggressively opposed unionization efforts at its US warehouses, pilots who work for Amazon contractors are currently the only employees within the company’s network with union representation. But these workers are in the midst of fighting for a new union contract against what they characterize as anti-union opposition from Amazon and their airline contractor.
About 2,000 pilots for Amazon at contractor Atlas Air have been struggling since 2016 to negotiate a new union contract with their employer. The pilots say they have faced low pay, poor working conditions, and high attrition rates.
The pilots’ union, Teamsters Local 2750, claim the contractor has repeatedly bought out other airlines to force arbitration over the new union contract agreement.
Atlas Air’s primary clients are Amazon and DHL, though the union has noted many DHL shipments transported by the pilots are also Amazon fulfillment orders. The airline operates out of a hub in Cincinnati and often transports Amazon freight to warehouses around the US. Amazon is also an investor in Atlas Air.
Bob Kirchner, a Teamsters trustee and a retired Atlas Air pilot, said the airline announced the acquisition as soon as contract negotiations began in 2016, and declined different proposals from the union to negotiate the contract outside of arbitration. Most recently, Kirchner noted the airline has used reply briefs to continue delaying a contract arbitration ruling with the National Mediation Board.
“They just keep pushing this down the road,” said Kirchner. “The very day we started negotiating they announced the purchase of Southern Air, and they said we are going to amalgamate this and so basically, arbitration was at the end of it. There was no chance for any kind of meaningful negotiation if the company didn’t want it.”
He criticized how Atlas Air had approached negotiations with the union, as profits for the company have soared during the pandemic from an operating loss in 2019 to a profit of over $360m in 2020. The airline received $407m in Cares Act funds and declined requests from the South Carolina congressman Jim Clyburn to return the funds.
Atlas Air insists it has acted in good faith.
A pilot for Atlas Air who requested to remain anonymous said the airline has suffered high attrition rates of pilots before the pandemic, but due to coronavirus shutting down passenger airlines and the surge in demand of Amazon’s business, Atlas Air experienced a surge in hiring demand and profits. But the pilot said Atlas Air had yet to negotiate a contract with the union.
“Our struggle is about getting a fair deal: having the company come to the table negotiating, running the company in a responsible manner, updating our work rules so we know what’s expected of us and we don’t have to worry about being antagonized or disciplined under a punitive environment,” he said.
Amazon did not respond to multiple requests for comment. In May 2019, an Amazon spokesperson blamed both sides for contract negotiation issues.
Atlas Air blamed the union for the contract negotiation delays, as the union has argued they attempted to push back against forced arbitration.
“We have been clear and consistent about wanting a new joint collective bargaining agreement for our pilots and have worked to expedite the process,” said a spokesperson for Atlas Air.
“As we work towards a new contract that increases pay for our pilots, there has been much misinformation spread by union leaders in an attempt to gain leverage in contract negotiations.”
About 2,000 pilots for Amazon at contractor Atlas Air have been struggling since 2016 to negotiate a new union contract with their employer. The pilots say they have faced low pay, poor working conditions, and high attrition rates.
The pilots’ union, Teamsters Local 2750, claim the contractor has repeatedly bought out other airlines to force arbitration over the new union contract agreement.
Atlas Air’s primary clients are Amazon and DHL, though the union has noted many DHL shipments transported by the pilots are also Amazon fulfillment orders. The airline operates out of a hub in Cincinnati and often transports Amazon freight to warehouses around the US. Amazon is also an investor in Atlas Air.
Bob Kirchner, a Teamsters trustee and a retired Atlas Air pilot, said the airline announced the acquisition as soon as contract negotiations began in 2016, and declined different proposals from the union to negotiate the contract outside of arbitration. Most recently, Kirchner noted the airline has used reply briefs to continue delaying a contract arbitration ruling with the National Mediation Board.
“They just keep pushing this down the road,” said Kirchner. “The very day we started negotiating they announced the purchase of Southern Air, and they said we are going to amalgamate this and so basically, arbitration was at the end of it. There was no chance for any kind of meaningful negotiation if the company didn’t want it.”
He criticized how Atlas Air had approached negotiations with the union, as profits for the company have soared during the pandemic from an operating loss in 2019 to a profit of over $360m in 2020. The airline received $407m in Cares Act funds and declined requests from the South Carolina congressman Jim Clyburn to return the funds.
Atlas Air insists it has acted in good faith.
A pilot for Atlas Air who requested to remain anonymous said the airline has suffered high attrition rates of pilots before the pandemic, but due to coronavirus shutting down passenger airlines and the surge in demand of Amazon’s business, Atlas Air experienced a surge in hiring demand and profits. But the pilot said Atlas Air had yet to negotiate a contract with the union.
“Our struggle is about getting a fair deal: having the company come to the table negotiating, running the company in a responsible manner, updating our work rules so we know what’s expected of us and we don’t have to worry about being antagonized or disciplined under a punitive environment,” he said.
Amazon did not respond to multiple requests for comment. In May 2019, an Amazon spokesperson blamed both sides for contract negotiation issues.
Atlas Air blamed the union for the contract negotiation delays, as the union has argued they attempted to push back against forced arbitration.
“We have been clear and consistent about wanting a new joint collective bargaining agreement for our pilots and have worked to expedite the process,” said a spokesperson for Atlas Air.
“As we work towards a new contract that increases pay for our pilots, there has been much misinformation spread by union leaders in an attempt to gain leverage in contract negotiations.”
05-11-2021, 05:37 AM
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At industry conferences the Atlas executives love to compare themselves to FDX and UPS, and how they move more freight to 425 airports in 105 countries with AAWH’s mostly 747 fleet of 100+ aircraft.
Last month the company argued to the arbitrator who will decide most of the next CBA their 2600 pilots compensation and work rules for the next 10 years should be on par with 21 Air, a cargo airline with 30 pilots and 4 aircraft, and Mesa. Essentially requesting pilot pay cuts during the greatest profits in company history.
That’s the Atlas Air definition of acting in good faith.
Last month the company argued to the arbitrator who will decide most of the next CBA their 2600 pilots compensation and work rules for the next 10 years should be on par with 21 Air, a cargo airline with 30 pilots and 4 aircraft, and Mesa. Essentially requesting pilot pay cuts during the greatest profits in company history.
That’s the Atlas Air definition of acting in good faith.
Last edited by Turbine1; 05-11-2021 at 06:20 AM.
05-11-2021, 07:33 AM
#7
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At industry conferences the Atlas executives love to compare themselves to FDX and UPS, and how they move more freight to 425 airports in 105 countries with AAWH’s mostly 747 fleet of 100+ aircraft.
Last month the company argued to the arbitrator who will decide most of the next CBA their 2600 pilots compensation and work rules for the next 10 years should be on par with 21 Air, a cargo airline with 30 pilots and 4 aircraft, and Mesa. Essentially requesting pilot pay cuts during the greatest profits in company history.
That’s the Atlas Air definition of acting in good faith.
Last month the company argued to the arbitrator who will decide most of the next CBA their 2600 pilots compensation and work rules for the next 10 years should be on par with 21 Air, a cargo airline with 30 pilots and 4 aircraft, and Mesa. Essentially requesting pilot pay cuts during the greatest profits in company history.
That’s the Atlas Air definition of acting in good faith.
05-11-2021, 07:52 AM
#8
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They know that if push comes to shove they can always staff their relatively small operation with people who's qualifications fit into a very narrow niche (training failures, terminations, glossed-over past employment history, etc). There is a line where the top-tier will simply stop growth or even shrink if they can't meet minimum pilot qualifications (ie safety) standards... I don't think that line exists for atlas.
05-11-2021, 08:34 AM
#9
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Atlas and Southern combined equal ~2600 pilots.
UPS ~2900.
AAWW does over $1B in revenue/yr.
This is a major airline being run like a 135 outfit.
05-11-2021, 08:59 AM
#10
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Big difference in the pilot pay potential of UPS and an ACMI company. The ACMI model is much like the regionals on the passenger side. Unless you are employed by the source of the revenue, don’t expect a paycheck on par with those who are. Having said that, Atlas has a horrible record of labor negotiations. I don’t see Atlas pilots ever being paid on par with brown or purple, but they should be making at least what Kalitta pilots make. Hopefully the legacies start hiring full speed and high attrition at Atlas returns your negotiating leverage.
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