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Teamsters Union Files Lawsuit Against Republic
Airways Calling On Fair Contracts |
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July 9, 2015 - Teamsters Local 357 in
Plainfield,
Ind., filed a lawsuit against
Republic Airways for unilaterally changing
pilots’ working conditions regarding “open time”
flying without first agreeing with the union
about those changes. More than 2,200 Republic
pilots are members of Local 357 and have been
seeking a fair contract from the company since
2007.
The lawsuit asserts that the company’s changes
are unlawful alterations in the status quo and
that they took place even while the items
changed were the subject of ongoing bargaining
between Local 357 and Republic. The purpose of
the lawsuit is to compel Republic's compliance
with its lawful duties under the Railway Labor
Act (RLA), the federal law which governs labor
relations in the airline industry.
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To uphold the principle that Republic can only
make changes to the pilots’ agreement through
the bargaining process, Local 357 filed a
lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in
Indianapolis (case number:
1:15-cv-01066-WTL-MJD) seeking injunctive
relief, declaratory judgment and other
appropriate relief against the company's
unlawful changes in the status quo of pilot
contractual rates of pay, rules and working
conditions.
“Republic has had eight years to come to an
agreement. The pilots are seeking a fair
contract that spells out pay, benefits and
working conditions, so that the company can’t
give something and take it back at their whim.
That’s what these hardworking, skilled pilots
deserve now—plain and simple,” said Jim Clark,
President of Local 357. Pending the outcome of
this lawsuit, the pilots will maintain their
normal practice with regard to flying.
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