Labor trouble with pilots deepens at Republic Airways

Source: AP

By DAVID KOENIG

DALLAS (AP) — The Teamsters group representing pilots at Republic Airways is balking at allowing a vote on the company's contract offer, deepening the rift between labor and management at the regional airline.

The Indianapolis company's shares plunged 37 percent on Wednesday.

Republic has threatened to begin a restructuring process if pilots don't approve the proposal it offered last week, which it termed its last and best offer.

Jim Clark, the president of Teamsters Local 357, said the group's leaders opposed a ratification vote because Republic changed language that had been agreed upon during bargaining and added provisions that improperly limited communication between the union and its pilots. He said the Teamsters national organization could override the local and order a ratification vote.

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