Emery Worldwide Airlines' pilots plan to file a grievance seeking to stop the cargo carrier from executing its fleet restructuring and crew reduction plan.
The pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), claim their contract forbids Emery from furloughing any ALPA members unless the carrier returns all wet-leased aircraft and there is a documented loss of business.
Although it is removing seven wet-leased Airbus A300s from its Dayton-Ohio, based network as part of the restructuring, Emery plans to retain one wet-leased World Airways McDonnell Douglas MD-11. The union says the carrier has notified pilots that the restructuring initiative includes furloughing up to 60 crew later this year as a result of the return of eight dry-leased McDonnell Douglas DC-8s they now operate.
"What they're doing does not comply with our scope clause," says union chairman Mark Luthi. "We are filing an expedited grievance."
Luthi says he notified the carrier yesterday of his plans to file the grievance on 19 June. Under the expedited path, an independent arbitrator would hear the case and issue a ruling within two months.
An Emery spokeswoman declines comment, saying she is unaware of the grievance.
Emery has announced plans to reduce its air cargo network to 38 aircraft, down from 54 aircraft last year.
Source: Flight Daily News
