AirTran Airways pilots, seeking new contract, plan to picket at annual meeting

AirTran pilots to picket outside annual meeting

ATLANTA — AirTran Airways’ pilots plan to picket outside the discount carrier’s annual meeting to step up pressure on management over the workers’ more than five-year effort to secure a new contract with better wages and quality-of-life improvements.

They also expect to announce during Tuesday’s shareholders’ meeting in Milwaukee that rank-and-file pilots have authorized the union to call a strike if it chooses.

At stake is AirTran’s low-cost advantage over larger rivals that has allowed it to lead the way on fare sales and usually still turn a profit.

Fellow carrier United Airlines is negotiating with all of its major unions, including its pilots. American Airlines and Continental Airlines also are in contract talks with their pilots.