Unionized Hawaiian Airlines pilots said today they believe their contract negotiations with the airline are at an impasse and asked the federal government to release them from mediation, a process that could start the clock for a future pilots’ strike.

In a letter sent to the National Mediation Board behalf of the Hawaiian pilots the Air Line Pilots Association, union officials formally requested that the NMB end its mediation efforts and issue a “Proffer of Arbitration” to both parties.
If the Board makes a proffer and either ALPA or Hawaiian declines to enter binding arbitration, the two sides would be released from mediation and will enter a 30-day cooling-off period after which the parties are free to take self-help. At that point Hawaiian’s pilots could strike.
“The Association believes that further mediation is not likely to lead to an agreement and that further bargaining, in the absence of a proffer, will be futile,” ALPA President John Prater said in a news release.
Hawaiian Airlines responded to the announcement, saying: "ALPA’s request is nothing more than posturing for negotiations, which continue with the oversight of the National Mediation Board. Hawaiian remains committed to reaching a fair agreement with its pilots union.”