Pilots who may qualify for food stamps to picket Republic Airways today

Republic Airways workers handbilling recently.

Republic Airways treats its newly hired pilots so shabbily they qualify for food stamps.

Let's repeat that: some of Republic Airways' new pilots are paid so little they qualify for food stamps.

Today, the airline's shareholders will meet at 666 (we're not kidding) Fifth Ave. in New York City. Uniformed pilots, mechanics and flight attendants will be picketing outside.

The regional airline is nearing a crisis -- aka a strike -- created by CEO and Chairman Bryan Bedford. According to a Teamsters report, Independent Board Leadership at Republic Airways –The Final Frontier, Republic's clubby board and conflicted lead director cause the airline's problems.

The Teamsters General Fund calls for an independent chairman of the board. As a shareholder in the airline, that proposal will be voted on as our brothers and sisters who work for the airline picket outside.

Republic provides regional service for United, American US Airways and Delta.

Stay tuned; we'll be covering the picketing and the annual meeting results.