Negotiations Between Sun Country, Pilots Stalled Without Agreement

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The future of Minnesota-based Sun Country Airlines is up in the air after recent mediated negotiations ended early, and without an agreement.

Sun County officials and the Air Line Pilots Association have been in negotiations for five years. The pilots say they are the lowest paid in the country, and they want a raise.

The pilots' union tells WCCO they are disappointed after mediated negotiations ended early without any agreement. So why does it matter?

You'll remember last month Sun Country Chairman Marty Davis sent an email to the head of the union, saying he has started to shut down the company. The email said the airline has started downsizing because management and pilots can't agree on a new contract. That was in early May.

Sun Country Pilot Union Chairman Brian Roseen tells WCCO they presented a new proposal that "lessened the cost of some important but non-critical elements of our earlier proposal."

"The company did not provide a counter-proposal and continues to insist that the financial status of the company makes it unable to increase its proposal," Roseen said.

The pilots union said they are regrouping and reviewing all options at this time.

They plan to release information to the pilots about what happened at the mediation and what the next steps are soon.

WCCO spoke with Davis by phone. He said he has no comment at this time. What it all means for the future of Sun County Airlines and for its passengers remains the big unknown.