Article published Aug 23, 2006
PHI, pilots have 5 days to agree
Jason Brown
[email protected]
Final discussions between Lafayette-based helicopter company PHI and the union representing its 550 pilots began today over a long-standing pay dispute.
The meetings are taking place in Washington under the supervision of the National Mediation Board and have been referred to as a "last- ditch effort" to resolve 29-months worth of negotiations.
The parties presumably have five days, or until Monday, to negotiate an agreement before the federally imposed 30-day cooling-off period is lifted, which would free the company and the union to take any action they deemed necessary.
For pilots, who are arguing for increased pay and back pay for the last two years since their contract expired, among other issues, that could mean a strike that would affect not only the oil and gas industry, where PHI has some 336 pilots, but also the Emergency Medical Services division of PHI, which has 221 pilots across the United States.
PHI bills itself as a world leader among helicopter companies and has developed a sizable and profitable business in the Air Medical industry. Locally, three of its largest clients in the Gulf of Mexico are BP, Shell and Exxon.
"We feel like the ball is pretty much in the company's court," said Steve Ragin, president of the pilots' union. "We've gone just about as far as we think we can go. We will do our best to avoid a strike."
Representatives from PHI, who were not available for comment Tuesday, have said in the past that they do not feel that the majority of pilots would walk off the job, but contingency plans are in place should a work stoppage occur.
Ragin has said he feels the company has once again underestimated the "will and determination" of its pilots.
"We've made preparations for that eventuality and if the company is not willing to come up with or at least try and meet us in some fashion, then a strike would seem almost a certainty," Ragin said.
Those preparations include a communication network, housing for out-of-town pilots who want to participate in any work-stoppage activities, printed signs for picketing and two Web sites for quick updates.
Tim Kolysko, a PHI employee and spokesman for PHI's EMS pilots, said should a work stoppage ensue, pilots will ask the company's customers, vendors, suppliers and contractors to discontinue their business with PHI's EMS division in support of the pilots efforts until the issues are settled.
He said the patients and vendors "will continue to be served by our numerous and capable competitors."