Amazon delivery pilots ordered to end strike for retail peak

Pilots for the Air Transport Services Group Inc. unit that hauls packages for Amazon.com Inc. and DHL Worldwide Express were ordered back to work by a federal judge, halting a strike that threatened to disrupt holiday deliveries. US District Judge Timothy Black in Cincinnati gave a nod to the holiday shopping rush in granting ABX Air’s request for a temporary restraining order for pilots to return to the cockpit. “The public expects that purchases and shipments will be delivered in a timely fashion,” Black said in Wednesday’s ruling. “Absent an injunction, ABX, its customers and the public will suffer immediate, irreparable harm. Imagine Christmas without Amazon!” The strike began Tuesday morning and forced the cancellation of dozens of flights. Julie Ford, a lawyer for the pilots union, said the union has withdrawn picket lines to comply with the order, which is effective for five days under federal law. “The union is obviously disappointed,” Ford said. The pilots will make a decision on how to proceed next week, she said.<br/>