Fellow Pilots,

We’ve seen the recent emails from Allegiant’s VP of Labor Relations, Bill Fishburn, and we need to set the record straight.

Despite his attempt to spin the National Mediation Board’s (NMB) response as a company “win,” the facts tell a very different story.

Let’s be absolutely clear: the NMB did not deny our request for a status conference nor did they deny our request for a proffer of arbitration, as you can read for yourself in the NMBs notice. The NMB went on to say that our request for a status conference, a standard precursor to any successful proffer request, is still under consideration.

The NMB also stated that the parties are to meet in July as scheduled, previously established, and agreed to by the parties. Nothing in the NMBs notice indicates a final decision has been made. Any suggestion otherwise is misleading at best, although some make failing attempts to twist, politicize, and weaponize the NMB’s words.

Mr. Fishburn’s messaging is clearly intended to sow division and demoralize this group. This isn’t new—it’s the same tired tactic we’ve seen from this company for years. But we know better. And more importantly, we stand stronger than ever before.

As our new Union volunteers take the baton and carry this fight forward, we’ve revisited the path blazed by the pilots who came before us. Looking through communications from over a decade ago, one theme is striking: the company used the exact same tactics back then—misdirection, division, and delay. But just as we saw through it then, we will cut through the noise now.

So let’s borrow the rallying cry from those Allegiant pilots who’ve built this foundation:

Ignore the Noise. Focus on the Facts.

Aviate. Navigate. Communicate. UNIFY.

We are not backing down. We are not at a loss. We are right where we need to be, informed, and relentless. Allegiant will deliver the contract that we have earned. We won’t settle for anything less.

In solidarity,

Captain Robert Skiles
Communications Committee
APA Teamsters Local 2118

Fellow Allegiant Pilots,

We are at a pivotal moment in our airline’s history—one that will define our future as professionals, as a pilot group, and as union members. The choices we make in the coming weeks and months will either move us closer to the contract we’ve earned, or set us back for years.

For too long, Allegiant’s management has worked to divide us. Their tactics—sowing distrust, belittling our unity, pushing misinformation—are not new. They are classic union-busting techniques, and sadly, some of us have taken the bait. The cracks in our group are growing wider, and make no mistake: management is counting on that division to win.

It’s time to say: enough.

We cannot continue turning on each other. The real fight is not among ourselves—it is with a company that has refused to respect the value we bring to this operation. We are the ones flying the planes, ensuring safety, and building this airline’s reputation every day. Yet, we’ve been four years without a contract. We’ve watched promises break, progress stall, and disrespect become routine.

Some have begun calling for a change in unions, believing that swapping the Teamsters for ALPA will fix our problems. Let’s be clear: this is exactly what management wants. A union change at this critical juncture would erase years of progress.

Ask yourself: why would Allegiant management support a move that’s supposed to be good for us? The answer is simple—they know it would cripple us.

This isn’t about the Teamsters vs. ALPA. This is about us. This is about unity, about fighting smart, and about standing together as one voice demanding the contract we deserve.

The truth is, no union—Teamsters or otherwise—can succeed without a united membership. A strong union is not something that happens to you; it’s something you are part of. We need every one of you to be engaged, involved, and vocal. The silent majority must no longer be silent. This is your union. Your contract. Your future.

I’ve heard the criticism: “The union isn’t a brotherhood.” But ask yourself—what have we done to build that brotherhood? True brotherhood isn’t passive. It means having each other’s backs, even when we disagree. It means having hard conversations and choosing solidarity over ego. It means locking arms in tough times and standing our ground—not scattering the moment things get difficult.

We fly the same planes as legacy carriers. We hold the same certifications. We endure the same stress, responsibility, and accountability. We are not less than. We are not inferior. We are Allegiant pilots, and it’s time we start acting like it. You deserve to be paid and treated accordingly. The company’s efforts to make you feel otherwise are strategic; they want compliance, not confidence.

Let me be honest: trust in the union has been damaged. But we are rebuilding. We are restructuring our approach, reestablishing accountability with union leadership, and doubling down on transparency and communication. But no progress will matter if we abandon ship now.

To those who want more education and insight, start with the book Confessions of a Union Buster by Martin Levitt. Learn how companies operate when they feel threatened by unity. Then ask yourself if what’s happening here feels familiar, because it should.

In closing, this is your moment. This is our moment. You have a choice—to be a critic on the sidelines or a brother or sister in the fight. Stand up. Speak out. Support each other. Fight for what’s yours. The contract is within reach, but only if we are together.

The time to unite is now. The enemy is not in the seat adjacent to you—it’s across the bargaining table.

 

In solidarity,

Captain Robert Skiles
Communications Committee
APA Teamsters Local 2118