Well the process changed in 2019, IBT decertification and ALPA election all in one vote.

 

After the close of business, Friday before Christmas.

Classy.

 

Oh my Dear Margi,

Whom you choose to take seriously is of little consequence.

I just came across a post you made directed toward a Delta pilot posting in an AA forum (your airline).

Curiously, despite not being affiliated with Allegiant for years, you are consistently posting hundreds of times in “our” forum. This behavior could be seen as somewhat contradictory, or let’ say hypocritical?

Furthermore, I feel it is necessary to clarify that I am not associated with management, nor do I have any other accounts or burner accounts, or whatever you make up.

I also noticed your use of the "T" word again (surprise, surprise), and I would encourage us all to maintain a respectful dialogue. Remember, each of us has our own paths and preferences, whether in your cherished Miami or elsewhere.

Lastly, it's perfectly normal for writing to differ from how we speak. You are doing the same, dear friend. Such differences enrich our communication. If you don't like my writing, don't read it.

It's actually quite impressive how you've managed to grasp so much about our union and the misguided phantasies of so many within our pilot group over all these years. This suggests to me that you have the potential to do better than this, Margi.

Wishing you happiness and fulfillment within the AA family and beyond.

 

You don’t understand, the company was moving forward on the retention bonus regardless of union involvement.

 

The meltdown by the union is utterly embarrassing. Childish. The attacks against FH consultants is laughable, crying “it’s not fair to hire experts”.

Inexperienced negotiators from the union playing right into management’s hands. Maybe the teamsters will get some more truckers to go to headquarters and scream “who are we??? TEAMSTERS!”

 

If you decertify, then where is the leverage for eventual endgame and release?

Every other pilot group uses pilot negotiators. This is not rocket science. And the notion of a "skilled negotiator" weaving a magic spell and leading the company into agreement is a pure fantasy, and betrays a lack of understanding of how the process actually works.

Every other pilot group uses pilot negotiators. What is sometimes needed is a talented ADVISOR.

Anyone who thinks going it alone is a wise move should cite an example where decertification and bringing in some sort of negotiations ninja closed the deal. There is no "talking the company into it", you will get the deal when they need the deal, or when you get released.

 

Where on earth is this idea of decertifying Teamsters, rolling unrepresented for x amount of time, and then voting in ALPA coming from? You guys are airline pilots aren't you? How on earth have you made it to this stage of your career and you still can't understand that google has a search function. Seriously, my teenage kids do a better job using the search function than all of you. I implore all who read this, inform yourself from the source and go read the rule change which occured roughly 5 years ago. Yes, historically you had to first decertify and then elect new representation in a later vote. The federal goverment believed this was archaic-- it was-- and it was adapted to what we have present day. In a hypothetical scenario where Allegiant decides to leave Teamsters for the world of ALPA, it would all occur in one swift move. The same vote to rid us of this STD, er... I mean union... would also be the vote to elect ALPA. I am no expert, but from what I read, the ballot would appear as 1. Union A 2. Union B or 3. No Union.

My goodness, can we not walk and chew gum at the same time either?

 

Also in unrelated news, in a showing of the most immature negotiating committee in the US Airline Industry, our negotiating committee sent out the most embarassing communication imaginable. We've reached the point of infliction, the spiral is tightening. Hope y'all didn't spend too much on the credit cards for christmas. At this rate, we might be looking at 2027 or later.

 

I keep hearing the rules have changed but I recall back in 2019 a group at G4 was looking into this and ALPA told them they had some no compete/no poaching clause with IBT and that's why they had to decertify first. Maybe that's changed too.

 

Correct, going it alone is a bad idea, which seems to be what one individual is suggesting. Teamsters are not perfect, but the idea that they are the "problem" is wrong. This always happens, a stubborn management group holds out, and everyone blames their union. Over and over again we see this.

The annoying part of this is having to read over and over again how it's the fault of pilot negotiators. Unless you are in the room watching it play out, no one has any idea whether your negotiating team is skilled or not.

"Skilled negotiators" don't have some magic power that suddenly gets a deal done, yet so many pilots think it's all about exactly that. It's a fight to the finish, and too often pilots start picking on their own rather than recognizing who is actually causing the issue.