HANOVER TWP., Pa. – Allegiant Air pilots at Lehigh Valley International Airport are joining the picket line with others around the country.
The pilots’ union says it’s calling for a fairer contract and could eventually strike if there’s no agreement.
Meanwhile Allegiant says it’s offered a competitive package.
“We believe it’s time for us, that we deserve to have an updated contract that reflects the work that we put into this company,” said Andrew Pennartz, who is among the around 30 Teamsters Allegiant Pilots on the picket line at Lehigh Valley International Airport.
“We’re doing an informational picket to bring awareness to the idea that we’ve been in negotiations with Allegiant for an updated work rules compensation and benefits contract since 2021.”
Teamsters Allegiant Air Pilots are joining other union pilots from the same company picketing at several other airports nationwide.
“A lot of our peers have updated contracts already and because of that we’re beginning to lose pilots to other carriers,” Pennartz said.
An LVIA spokesperson said the airport is not anticipating disruptions because of this.
“The informational picket is done on our own time. We are not impacting the flights or schedules of Allegiant at all,” Pennartz said.
Allegiant Air says it is also not anticipating any disruptions.
The company says Allegiant is currently in negotiations to finalize an agreement for its pilots.
Allegiant says it’s offered a competitive package including an immediate 50% average increase in hourly wages that scales to 70% over five years.
It says it’s also offered a 50% increase in direct contribution to pilots’ retirement benefits, improvements in long-term disability benefits, and extensive scheduling and quality of life improvements.