Following a tentative agreement on April 5, 2017, Teamster flight dispatchers at Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo have voted today to ratify changes to their existing contract.
One-hundred percent of the flight dispatchers voted, with 74 percent voting in favor of ratification.
The amended agreement, which was set to expire in November, has been extended for another four years and becomes amendable on November 12, 2021. The new provisions of the tentative agreement include a 30 percent wage increase over the life of the contract, as well as generous moving provisions for the members affected by the company’s relocation of flight dispatch operations to Cincinnati.
“I’m very happy to see this agreement ratified,” said Local 210 Principal Officer George Miranda. “We have reached an agreement that’s amenable to everyone involved, and we’re looking forward to having a positive relationship with Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo in the coming years.”
“The agreement ratified recognizes the relocation needs of the company and helps position it to continue its record of growth and its preeminent position as a world-class airline,” said Capt. David Bourne, Teamsters Airline Division Director. “I would like to commend the leadership and negotiators, especially the stewards – Dennis Gerber, Bernie Mackey and Yaqub Malik, along with Local 210 Representative Cynthia de Figueiredo, International Representative Captain Paul Alves, Deputy Division Director Steven Nagrotsky and Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo management for their professionalism and diligence in the negotiations.”
Robert Kirchner, long time Atlas Air pilot and executive council chairman of APA Teamsters Local 1224, said:
“We stand together with Atlas flight dispatchers and are pleased to see that they reached an agreement with the company that recognizes the vital role they play for our business and our customers. In that same spirit, we call on Atlas Air executives to address the serious challenges that face our operations. As our pilots continue to leave due to substandard pay and working conditions, the attrition and retention issues at our airline should be a top concern and one that underscores the need to work with pilots on fair, honest solutions to these issues.”