ual nyc alpa council 5 update on nai,


ladies and gentlemen of council 5,

by now, most of you know that the obama department of transportation (dot) has approved norwegian air internationals (nai) application for an air carrier permit. We are appalled by this decision and will do everything in our power to reverse it. An accurate assessment of the situation is in the dec 2nd mec master chairman update (see attached).

The nai flag of convenience scheme violates the u.s. / e.u. Open skies agreement, in that, it completely ignores the labor protections spelled out in it. Oddly, the european commission (executive body of the e.u. Responsible for upholding treaties) approved nai's application three years ago. Nai is a european carrier, which may put some money in its european owners' pockets, but it will not create the jobs as promised.

The sales pitch of how nai will create jobs on both sides of the atlantic is a complete sham. Sure, a handful airport jobs might be created, but in the long run this scheme sets the stage for an offshoring of the entire american aviation industry. It is analogous to saying that jobs were created in the u.s. Maritime industry just because someone was hired to clean the docks and turn off the lights after the last ships sailed away, permanently.

Our upa scope provisions currently prohibit united airlines from planting a flag outside the u.s. However; the approval of nai has set up a destructive precedent. We expect dozens of similar applications to be submitted, eventually forcing every u.s. Carrier to follow suit. The president of the united states can disapprove the dots decision within 60 days. While it was the obama administration that approved this ruling, despite labor's objections, our union will vigorously lobby the incoming trump administration to right this wrong. Be assured, your leadership will be working with our legislative affairs committee and alpa-international to reverse this absurd ruling. If we were in charge, we would immediately begin picketing at both the white house and trump tower to seek help.

Please stay tuned in the days and weeks ahead on this issue, and be prepared to act.

Fraternally,
glenn, mark, and phil