Hawaiian Airlines pilots to establish strike-ops centre

Hawaiian Airlines pilots’ labour representatives said they will open a strike-operations centre in September in Honolulu―the latest escalation of the pilots’ rhetoric in their stalled contract negotiations with the airline. The more than 600 Hawaiian Airlines pilots voted overwhelmingly to authorise a strike earlier this year. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents Hawaiian flight-deck crewmembers, has asked the US National Mediation Board (NMB) to release the pilots from federal mediation. An NMB release would trigger an offer of binding arbitration, which could be rejected by either side. An arbitration rejection would start a 30-day cooling-off period that would have to take place prior to any strike. “We still hope we can reach an agreement with the company, but we are prepared for any eventuality,” ALPA said. <br/>