thesandbox

Looks like we just took another turn for the worse.....

*** URGENT NEGOTIATION UPDATE ***

Dear Fellow Atlas Crew Members,

There have been some recent developments regarding our collective bargaining negotiations. Yesterday afternoon, AAWW President and CEO Bill Flynn and Atlas Air’s Vice President of Flight Operations Jeff Carlson made an about face and informed us that AAWW does not intend to merge Florida West into a single operation with Southern Air and Atlas/Polar, and that it intends to operate Florida West separately from – and as a parallel operation to – Southern and Atlas. In other words, AAWW intends to operate Florida West as a double-breasted airline to whipsaw the Atlas/Polar and Southern pilots in order to reduce our wages, benefits and job protections.

Mr. Flynn’s announcement regarding Florida West is no less than a declaration of war against the Atlas and Southern Teamsters by AAWW and its leadership. Earlier this year, Mr. Flynn, in a face-to-face meeting with International Brotherhood of Teamsters President James P. Hoffa, stated that AAWW would not attempt to undermine the Teamster-represented Atlas/Polar and Southern pilots by operating any of its carriers, including Florida West, in a parallel, i.e., double-breasted operation. Mr. Flynn did not speak the truth to President Hoffa. His true intentions have now risen to the surface, and it is all too clear that AAWW not only intends to undermine our wages, benefits and other contractual protections, but will say and do anything to achieve their objective. As part of AAWW’s plan, Atlas Air, Inc.’s John Dietrich and Captain Carlson previously terminated our RLA Section 6 negotiations, and Mr. Flynn, in his letter today, has reiterated that this is AAWW’s position going forward.

It is truly disheartening that AAWW is proceeding down its amalgamation rabbit hole and seeking an arbitrator to rescue it from legitimate collective bargaining. AAWW has repeatedly stated that it seeks to avoid legitimate collective bargaining so that an arbitrator will impose contract terms on us. AAWW’s amalgamation–arbitration strategy is designed to deprive us of our right to vote on our next contract. We were deprived of the right to vote on our last contract and now they are attempting to do it again. We must learn from past history and be vigilant in our efforts to combat their strategy. Do not be misled when Messrs. Flynn, Dietrich, Carlson or anyone else tell you that they are following our contract. They are not following the contract and are instead ignoring its terms and the law by maneuvering to get an arbitrator to impose contract terms on you again, with no right to vote on the matter.

Faced with AAWW’s stubborn refusal to bargain with us directly in RLA Section 6 negotiations, we had no choice but to file for mediation with the National Mediation Board (NMB) late yesterday afternoon. This move was made to protect our rights to vote on the next CBA. It is clear that the company is unwilling to engage in any good faith direct negotiations with us; thus we invoked the NMB’s RLA jurisdiction. We steadfastly intend to bargain for an RLA sanctioned, new, amended and lawful contract as the law requires. We will not be deterred in our quest to make sure you are able to vote on the next CBA… that you vote on your future, that you get the chance to decide what is acceptable, and that your aviation career, future and your life not be decided by a third party or by a company that is simply interested in protecting its bottom line and disgustingly large salaries and bonuses for its corporate officers.

I ask you to consider why AAWW and Messrs. Flynn, Dietrich and Carlson are so afraid of giving their pilots a fair choice and a chance to decide on their future. Why do they persist on wasting time and money trying to avoid any legitimate bargaining and deprive us of our right to negotiate and vote upon the terms of our contract? I believe the answers to these questions are clear. The pilots are united in our cause for a fair, legitimate contract, and you fully recognize that AAWW wants to cheat you out of it. I ask you to look in the mirror and decide for yourself if you want to fight back or be left stranded by tyranny and greed. It is time to unite to become even stronger and with even more resolve. It will now take all of us to protect ourselves. Voting and deciding on your fate is an American right. Taking that right away for greed and self-aggrandizement is the opposite.

It is now more critical that all of you vote to give your leadership a complete 100% vote on the upcoming strike vote.

Fraternally,

Bob Kirchner
Atlas Executive Council Chairman
APA Teamsters Local 1224

JonnyKnoxville

Once the whipsaw begins, Atlas will furlough while Florida West hires. Amazing how quickly a management team can completely destroy an airline.

Stratocruzr

This place is Not what was advertised.

Bombinha

Check your PM

dutch747

It will be interesting to follow what happens next at Florida West. Can anyone shed some light? I looked at their website and it doesn't even suggest they have any employees or aircraft! Just looks like a shell company with no assets.

tuktukdriver

I would be very cautious wanting to join Atlas at this point. The company has mentioned that they intend to use Florida West (Non union **** carrier with horrible work rules) as an alter ego, and not merge them with Atlas/Southern. They will play the whipsaw game, which means that eventually they will move airplanes from the Atlas and/or Southern certificates to the FW certificate to prevent Pilots from having a descent contract. What that means for new guys hired at Atlas or Southern is a probable furlough in the not too distant future. They are playing the regionals game because they don't want their Pilots to get an industry standard contract, they do want to utilize them as much as possible but don't want them to get paid for it. They are reaping the profits this company makes with their huge salaries and bonuses.
These people are really upsetting everyone who work so hard in this place and they will leave once they get their money and leave a huge mess. This could be a great place to work at, unfortunately, it's not.. not with people like that at management level.
There are much better options out there, even some regionals are better at this point. I'm new there and my resume is up to date with many carriers and some part 91 too.
I think they aren't grasping what is going on in this country with the Pilot hiring going on everywhere and the pool of applicants dwindling down.
I told 4 of my ex co-workers who were interested in Atlas to stay put and look elsewhere. There are much better options.

Bluesville

WOW! What a difference 7months makes. I took their online test 7months ago(took me three years to get), didn't study as I was in Upgrade Class at the time so I didn't pass. Now as I'm looking to restart that whole process I cant believe what I'm reading. I'm beginning to think that was a blessing in disguise.

It pains me to hear whats happening. Best of luck to all the great guys and Gals there.

Xtreme87

I took the test and got a really good score. They never got back to me. Dodged a bullet. Got a lot of friends there, feeling for them.

RyeMex

Is this a legitimate concern? I'm waiting on a class date, and the prospect of walking into a furlough is pretty disconcerting.

BayBum4Ever

run forest run !!!!!!!!!!