Pilots union that delivers for Amazon plans to picket at Dayton Air Show

Thomas Gnau, Dayton Daily News, Ohio
·2 min read

Jun. 21—A union representing pilots who fly for Amazon's delivery network will make their case for a new contract at the CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show on Saturday.

The union of pilots for Wilmington-based Air Transport International (ATI) said it will hold an "informational picket" at the air show.

The ATI pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), say they will hold the picket outside the main entrance to the show.

"After more than four years of negotiations without meaningful progress, ATI pilots will stand together to demonstrate to management their resolve to achieve a market-based contract that will allow ATI to attract and retain pilots," the union said in a release. "ATI parent company Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) is a sponsor of the Dayton Air Show."

A representative of ATSG declined to comment on the matter beyond previous statements made during quarterly earnings calls to investors.

In January the union asked the National Mediation Board to declare an impasse in the contract talks and proffer binding arbitration with the cargo airline. That would be the first step in pursuing a legal strike.

"In November (2023), 99.7% of ATI pilots voted to strike, should it be necessary to achieve the market-rate contract we have earned," Capt. Mike Sterling, chair of the ATI ALPA master executive council, said in January. "For three and half years we have been working to reach an agreement. No progress has been made over the last 18 months, and management has made it clear that they are in no hurry to finalize our contract."

Air Transport International is the largest air carrier in Amazon's delivery network, flying Amazon packages from fulfillment centers to airports closer to customers.

In late 2016, about 250 pilots at ABX Air, another subsidiary of ATSG, struck the airline. The sides agreed to a settlement early in 2017. ABX Air's pilots were represented by a different union, the Airline Professionals Association Teamsters, Local 1224.

ALPA says it is the largest airline pilot union, with more than 78,000 pilot members.