Breeze pilots vote to unionize, an effort the airline vows to fight
Breeze's pilots have voted to join a union.
By a 29-21 vote conducted by the National Mediation Board, pilots at the ultra-low-cost startup have voted to join the Air Line Pilots Association, the union said.
"With 85% of eligible pilots participating in a representation election that concluded today, Breeze Airways pilots voted in favor of union representation and chose to join ALPA," the union said in a statement. "The National Mediation Board is expected to certify ALPA as the official bargaining representative for the airline's pilots in the next few days."
The NMB is the federal government body that handles labor relations in the airline and railroad industries.
In a statement, Breeze said it plans to take legal action against the vote.
More news about Breeze Airways:
- Breeze adds Phoenix, but cuts some new transcons planned for NYC-area airport
- Breeze encounters strong headwinds as it cancels new routes ahead of launch
- Inside Breeze Airways' swanky Airbus A220 with a whopping 36 first-class recliners
- Breeze plans to launch international flights after its first A220 routes are up and running
- A faux inaugural: What it's like on board Breeze's new Airbus A220
"Breeze was disappointed to learn of the National Mediation Board's ("NMB") decision that the Air Line Pilots Association, International ("ALPA") had won an election as union representative for Breeze pilots," an airline spokesperson said. "Breeze plans to file a legal challenge to the election since the NMB used a flawed election process that unlawfully denied a majority of Breeze's pilots the right to vote in the election."
The basis of Breeze's argument is that the number of eligible pilots for the vote is based on those who were actively flying in commercial service at Breeze as of March 31, when the airline was smaller and had yet to begin Airbus A220 service, the spokesperson told TPG. Breeze believes that many more pilots should have been eligible for the vote.
Regardless of the timing, some Breeze pilots have raised issues about the pay and working conditions at the startup, a source familiar with the unionization effort told TPG.
Breeze first officers currently start at $75 an hour on both its Embraer and Airbus A220 fleets. By comparison, the first-year first officers at the three regional airlines owned by American Airlines make $90 per hour — an industry outlier but a figure that shows just how in demand pilots currently are, amidst an industrywide pilot shortage.
Should Breeze pilots prevail once management challenges the result of the union, they would begin collectively bargaining for a contract with the airline.
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.