AirTran pilots’ union move OK’d

AirTran Airways pilots have been cleared to join the Air Line Pilots Association, a move that will make AirTran the largest low-cost carrier with pilots represented by the union.

ALPA hopes the expansion will strengthen organized labor’s hand in bargaining with airlines. Major airlines have waged tough negotiations in recent years, extracting concessions to keep costs down and better compete with low-cost carriers.

ALPA’s executive board voted Tuesday to approve the AirTran pilots’ switch from their independent union to ALPA, the world’s largest airline pilot union with units at 36 carriers including Atlanta-based Delta. The change at AirTran takes effect May 1.

“It’s about solidarity among all pilot groups,” said Linden Hillman, acting president of the AirTran pilots union.

AirTran’s 1,700 pilots, based at its Atlanta hub, have been represented by the independent National Pilots Association, set up in 1997. Pilots in April voted on the switch to ALPA.

“They’re trying to get into a more traditional, militant union,” said Gary Chaison, professor of industrial relations at Clark University.

AirTran and JetBlue have the lowest paid and most productive pilots, according to FTN Midwest Securities. Gaining the AirTran pilots group means ALPA can claim it represents workers in all sectors of the industry, Chaison said. “We believe that the strength of us coordinating the effort is the strength of ALPA,” said ALPA president John Prater. “We are recovering from that whole bankruptcy era where our contracts were gutted.”

The switch to ALPA comes amid long-running talks over a new pilot contract at AirTran. Prater said one of ALPA’s priorities is improving work rules.