Republic Airways Pilots Give Authorization For Strike

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Pilots for three airlines
owned by Indianapolis-based Republic Airways Holdings [RAH/NASDAQ:RJET] voted to
authorize their union leaders to call a strike against the company should it
become necessary.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100127/IBTLOGO)

Members of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local No. 357 who fly for
Chautauqua, Republic Airlines and Shuttle America overwhelmingly voted “yes” in
a union-held strike authorization election that closed on Tuesday.

The vote does not mean that pilots will strike immediately. Union
representatives and the company have been in federally mediated contract
negotiations under the Railway Labor Act.

This vote determines whether the Executive Council/Executive Board can exercise
the pilots’ legal right to strike at Republic Airways Holdings upon release from
the National Mediation Board. The resulting “yes” vote authorizes the union
leadership to call a strike should it become necessary but does not force the
union to call a strike or make a strike inevitable. RAH pilots are working under
a 2003 contract. The contract has been amendable since 2007.

Local 357′s leadership has willingly limited contract negotiations to four
critical sections – outsourcing, compensation, displacements/vacancies and
scheduling. Talks are currently in federal mediation per Railway Labor Act
rules. All scheduled mediation sessions have concluded. The mediator has not yet
decided whether to hold additional sessions or to recommend releasing the union
and company from mediation to potential self-help/strike activity.

“We don’t want to strike,” explained Pat Gannon. “However, we need the company
to understand that it is in everyone’s best interest to treat pilots fairly and
with respect. We have pilots who work long hours, but still can’t feed their
families.”

Gannon explained that First Officer pay has topped out and continued increases
in benefit costs have resulted in what is essentially a pay cut for many.

“It’s sad that some of our pilots can make more money drawing unemployment than
doing the professional job they have been trained for and were hired to do,”
Gannon said.

With 98.86 percent of eligible pilots in the unit voting, 99.25 percent voted
for strike authorization. More than 74 percent cast their vote on the first day.

RAH is the holding company for Chautauqua Airlines, Republic Airways, Shuttle
America and Frontier Airlines. IBT Local No. 357 represents all pilots at
Republic Airways. However, Frontier Airlines is covered under a separate
collective bargaining agreement and did not participate in this election.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters