Our Record and the Work Ahead

Fellow Pilots,

When your elected Executive Board took office in January, we understood what you expected of us: meaningful improvements to your contract, protection and advancement of your careers, and a union that answers directly to its members. You can judge our performance by what has happened since then.

One of our first responsibilities was to help guide our Local out of trusteeship. We built the infrastructure needed for a strong Local Union, including staff support, expanded committees, and clear working relationships between those committees and the Executive Board. That foundation helps us respond to members, enforce our contract, and prepare for the work ahead.

Together with our Negotiating Committee, legal and economic advisers, and the pilots who supported this effort, we secured and ratified a Bridge Agreement that delivered substantial pay increases now, with additional increases scheduled for 2027 and 2028.

The new Hartford LTD base plan took effect on November 1, ahead of the originally projected schedule. We are providing members with details regarding the coverage and enrollment.

Those results were not automatic and were never guaranteed. We negotiated amid the uncertainty of the acquisition and an industrywide fuel shock that drove jet fuel prices to roughly twice their start-of-year level.

The National Mediation Board refused to release us from mediation after the Union requested release, which left us without the ability to move toward a lawful strike while negotiations continued. In that unfavorable bargaining environment, we had to secure meaningful improvements for Allegiant pilots while preparing for both a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) and Seniority List Integration (SLI).

It took months of bargaining, mediation, and careful review of contract language. Our pilots then made their voices heard through near-universal participation in the ratification vote, giving this agreement a strong mandate and demonstrating the strength of the bargain we struck with the Company.

Our work did not end with ratification. We have been pressing the Company to implement the agreement correctly, including new pay provisions and scheduling rules. We secured confirmation that union dues and per capita taxes would not be deducted from your retention bonus or profit-sharing payments.

We have worked through individual questions concerning the bonus, disability benefits, and reporting obligations so affected pilots can get answers that apply specifically to their personal circumstances. On a daily basis, we continue to pursue grievances and represent pilots when the Company does not follow the terms of our contract.

At the same time, we are preparing for the JCBA and SLI. We have met with committee chairs to identify priorities across the pilot group and have contracted with the University of New Hampshire to develop a membership survey that will help shape our bargaining goals.

We are also conducting contract studies and will publish the results to the membership once they are complete. We have brought in experienced counsel and are preparing for the work ahead. We will communicate what we know, explain decisions as they are made and the reasons for those decisions, and give members every opportunity to be heard throughout this important process.

Local 2118 remains responsible for protecting your contract and providing your representation, and we intend to continue to earn your confidence through our actions. We will stay focused on enforcement, JCBA preparation, and protecting all of you.