Originally Posted by
MudPupppy
Signing an authorization card says you wish the NMB to conduct an investigation/vote for a union. There is a difference though between the ALPA cards and Teamsters. Teamsters cards say if the company chooses to acknowledge the Teamsters, they can. No vote required.
I have a question for the Teamsters supporters. They claim ALPA won't represent Colgan Pilots IF there was a merger with PNCL. Why would the teamsters represent us better? If we merged with PNCL we would become ALPA, Teamsters would lose us, thus they have no reason to want to spend money and man power to support us in a merger.
One more question to those opposed to ALPA because in a merger ALPA will take PNCL side. What is ALPA national's role in a merger, and how will ALPA national help PNCL more then us? What is ALPA's merger policy? If you don't know, you probably shouldn't be saying anything about what ALPA will or won't do.
If we Colgan pilots come together develop a solid relationship with PNCL pilots, and IF A MERGER took place, an agreement could be reached that both sides could live with.
Of course that would require Colgan Pilots to learn how to not be defensive about everything that goes on around us, opening our eyes, and taking a proactive role in our futures. Until we can, no union out there can help us.
Thanks for the clarification on the cards. When you say "the company" is that management or labor? If it is management, I think we can all agree "the company" doesn't want ANY union.
You raise excellent questions. The kinds of questions I want answered before I cast my vote. That is why I want to talk to BOTH of them. As I have said, I am LEANING for the IBT, but ultimately I want what is best for me and my comrades.
To date, I have not found, and no one has shown me, ALPA's merger position. I would love to know it, and share it with my coworkers.
There is a vocal group in both companies who believes "they are gonna take my flyin". The folks I fly with and I DON"T WANT to take their flying. My guess is most of the PNCL folks DON'T WANT to take Colgan slots. But I think a statement by the PNCL group to the Colgan pilots could eliminate may of the fears (the statement must come from PNCL since it is a bigger group and since they already have a union and, by definition, have a unified voice.... something Colgan pilots do not legally have now).
We all want the same things: better working conditions and (when the money exists) better pay. I hope both groups can work together.
FWIW, you and I and several others of us ARE being proactive. In most unions, a handful of folks do a ****load of work while the masses just want to share the spoils. One big concern I have is how many folks seem to be anti union. I thought the only question was WHO would represent us, but I am starting to wonder if ANYONE will represent us. Fight the good fight, and may the best UNION WIN!