By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – Pilots who work for a St. Louis-based regional airline say the company is trying to circumvent their union by starting another air carrier.
Trans-States Airlines operates short flights for larger carriers including American and United.
Now, Trans States' parent company is launching a second company called GoJet.
But Air Line Pilots Association President Duane Woerth says the move is a common union-busting tactic.
"This could turn into what is a classic double-breasting operation," Woerth said. "A company has a union and a contract and simply tries to start a new company with a non-union workforce and move the work away from them. This isn't anything new. This has been going on for 150 years."
Trans-States spokesman Bill Mishk says the new company is necessary because contracts with the big airlines limit them to flying 50-seat planes.
Mishk says the Teamsters will represent GoJet pilots and not the Pilots Association.