Amerijet STRIKE!
08-29-2009 | 03:59 AM
#61
Line Holder
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 43
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These are the guys that don't want to fight the battle but will reap the benefits when AJT finally have to sign a contract. Give em hell.
08-29-2009 | 06:18 AM
#64
Line Holder
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 82
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It ain't politics, is your livelihood. Piarco doesn't even know what your saying anyway. ABX has not moved. UPS won't deliver freight. Hunker down for however long it takes. Keep the pressure on the greasy scabs. This is not a big pilot group, and a bunch of their senior captains are in hiding. The AJT picket needs volunteers from the Miami and FLL area to walk the line. We had the president of the APA and president of the IBT- Airline Division yesterday. Local 1224 was represented. A lot of people in our business are armchair pontificators, come out in the hot sun and participate for a change. Bring chairs, tables, water, food, whatever you can bring. Watch the AJT chief pilot sneak out through the back parking lot. Watch overpaid import agents show their disgust at the "greedy" pilots. And finally, watch all the working class folk around MIA show their approval for this small labor action. Take back this industry one small step at a time.
08-29-2009 | 06:59 AM
#65
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
Good luck guys
11 out of 51 crossing and the senior guys in hiding.... that is not looking good. Old sugar Dave only needs a few more say 20 to get the senior boys to cross and then it is over. I would be contacting the senior guys pronto and making sure they are with your program.
Good luck and keep your communication lines open even with those that have crossed, sometimes you can bring them back.
just my .02
Good luck and keep your communication lines open even with those that have crossed, sometimes you can bring them back.
just my .02
08-29-2009 | 07:54 AM
#66
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 66
From: MD-11 FO
Can anyone send or PM me a contact e-mail for the IBT at Amerijet? I'm the P2P Chair for XJT and wanted to send out a blastmail to our pilots to get them info on the strike, history of negotiations at Amerijet and info on where the picket lines are. Thanks!
08-29-2009 | 09:03 AM
#67
On Reserve
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Just a CFI right now, but...
Godspeed to all of you! I hope this wakes some people up and opens the door to some truly en-masse strikes (or at least managements pulling their heads out of a dark hole).
Here's a question to throw out there... There has been a long standing SCAB list. It's out there on the internet in a .pdf format (but looks like it was run off a 1970's ditto machine) and shows at least the first and last name of every scab for about every strike in the 20th century. I have a downloaded copy that was last updated with the Comair strike of 2001 (change 5). Sooooo, here's the question - will any Amerijet scabs make this list? What can be done to ensure they get on there? You can bet that I check the list before I check out any "retired airline pilot" to rent planes at the hangar I work out of. I make sure my students know for a fact the "jumpseat protection list" really does exist.
I am currently looking at change 5 and the email (if this is even possible) is [email protected].
So anyone reading this - PLEASE try to get these scabs on the list.
Here's a question to throw out there... There has been a long standing SCAB list. It's out there on the internet in a .pdf format (but looks like it was run off a 1970's ditto machine) and shows at least the first and last name of every scab for about every strike in the 20th century. I have a downloaded copy that was last updated with the Comair strike of 2001 (change 5). Sooooo, here's the question - will any Amerijet scabs make this list? What can be done to ensure they get on there? You can bet that I check the list before I check out any "retired airline pilot" to rent planes at the hangar I work out of. I make sure my students know for a fact the "jumpseat protection list" really does exist.
I am currently looking at change 5 and the email (if this is even possible) is [email protected].
So anyone reading this - PLEASE try to get these scabs on the list.
08-29-2009 | 09:08 AM
#68
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Apelo@290
Can anyone send or PM me a contact e-mail for the IBT at Amerijet? I'm the P2P Chair for XJT and wanted to send out a blastmail to our pilots to get them info on the strike, history of negotiations at Amerijet and info on where the picket lines are. Thanks!
August 28, 2009
Dear Local 747 Crewmembers,
Yesterday at 4:30 p.m. the Crewmembers of Amerijet International went on strike. This action culminates five long years of bad faith bargaining by their management team. Despite the 30-day cooling off period and super-mediation imposed by the National Mediation Board, Amerijet was unable to agree to the most basic dignity items that any employee would expect.
A first contract is always a struggle under the Railway Labor Act. As the end game approached wage rates were agreed upon and it seemed a deal was in the offing. Unfortunately, in the late hours of August 26 the company walked out of negotiations refusing to change their sick leave policy. This policy can only be described as draconian and patently unsafe in aviation. The company refused to change its current policy, which allows no more than six sick days a
year. When crewmembers call in sick they lose flight credit for that trip and are docked five hours of additional pay. Amerijet also refuses to provide basic human necessities such as in-flight lavatories, food or even water to its crewmembers.
I am proud to say that members of Local 747 are staunchly supporting our Teamster brothers from Amerijet. Last night, Trustee Dave Ross and Business Agents John Liebenow and Doug Turner, and Local 747 members, joined Airline Division Director David Bourne on the overnight picket line in front of Amerijet operations at MIA's Cargo City. Since the strike, only two of their seven airplanes have left the ground. It is no easy task to navigate the legal minefield of supporting another air carrier's strike. Managements' have claimed that you have no right to honor a picket line and must carry struck work. Many companies over the years have threatened termination to those
that outright refuse to cross a picket line or fly struck goods. I will not debate the legal arguments here. It is sufficient to understand the tremendous stress and anxiety created in a crewmember that has the choice of being fired or risks his or her safety, his property and his good name by crossing a picket line or transporting struck goods.
If you are confronted with a picket line and those choices and feel that the stress and emotional strain it creates will not allow you to focus on operating the aircraft safely, then as a certificated airman you must declare yourself unfit and not operate the aircraft. This Local and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters will defend your individual right to exercise your certificate responsibly.
A member at another Local confronted a similar situation a few years ago, and although briefly taken out of service, he was not disciplined in any way for exercising his rights and responsibilities as a certificated airman. Indications are that Amerijet is strategically maneuvering to have scab pilots fly their freight to their destinations. Clearly, our crewmembers would not want to be accused of aiding and abetting such an act and risk their reputations. The company should have as much sense regarding sullying its
corporate reputation by aiding a company with such atrocious safety policies. It should also be concerned these actions could legally make other carriers a primary target of the job action.
Local 747 will do everything in its power to ensure the other customers of our carriers are not harmed by Amerijet' s actions. We went to great lengths with the Miami Teamster Locals to guarantee the picket lines would not interfere with other operations, which are very close to Amerijet's operations. We will continue to exercise our power judiciously to protect our professions.
This crisis may continue for some time, the first 1 2 hours have been very successful but we must maintain our vigilance and our support for the Amerijet pilots must grow. If you are interested in supporting the effort, please email Business Agents John Liebenow at j [email protected] or Doug Turner at DouglasJTurner(g),comcast.net. A grassroots fund-raising campaign will begin shortly to supplement the Amerijet crewmembers' Teamster benefits.
I would like to acknowledge the efforts of ABX Air Captain Dave Ross, and Business Agent John Liebenow, and Local 769 Business Agent Daisy Gonzales for their contributions to the Airline Division's first Multi-Local Strike Committee. Their face-toface communication with the Amerijet crews over the last several weeks was critical to this campaign. Locals 747, 1224, 769 and 986 joined forces to create the Strike Committee. We also have received support from the pilots of Capital Cargo International and the Allied Pilots Association (American) pilots to ensure Amerijet crews can get jumpseats home.
I continue to urge each of you to lend your full support to the Amerijet crewmembers. Our continuing support will have a positive impact for our profession. If you have any questions or concerns during these turbulent circumstances, please call the union hall or contact me via email.
Fraternally,
Captain Dan Brannan
Trustee, Local 747
Dear Local 747 Crewmembers,
Yesterday at 4:30 p.m. the Crewmembers of Amerijet International went on strike. This action culminates five long years of bad faith bargaining by their management team. Despite the 30-day cooling off period and super-mediation imposed by the National Mediation Board, Amerijet was unable to agree to the most basic dignity items that any employee would expect.
A first contract is always a struggle under the Railway Labor Act. As the end game approached wage rates were agreed upon and it seemed a deal was in the offing. Unfortunately, in the late hours of August 26 the company walked out of negotiations refusing to change their sick leave policy. This policy can only be described as draconian and patently unsafe in aviation. The company refused to change its current policy, which allows no more than six sick days a
year. When crewmembers call in sick they lose flight credit for that trip and are docked five hours of additional pay. Amerijet also refuses to provide basic human necessities such as in-flight lavatories, food or even water to its crewmembers.
I am proud to say that members of Local 747 are staunchly supporting our Teamster brothers from Amerijet. Last night, Trustee Dave Ross and Business Agents John Liebenow and Doug Turner, and Local 747 members, joined Airline Division Director David Bourne on the overnight picket line in front of Amerijet operations at MIA's Cargo City. Since the strike, only two of their seven airplanes have left the ground. It is no easy task to navigate the legal minefield of supporting another air carrier's strike. Managements' have claimed that you have no right to honor a picket line and must carry struck work. Many companies over the years have threatened termination to those
that outright refuse to cross a picket line or fly struck goods. I will not debate the legal arguments here. It is sufficient to understand the tremendous stress and anxiety created in a crewmember that has the choice of being fired or risks his or her safety, his property and his good name by crossing a picket line or transporting struck goods.
If you are confronted with a picket line and those choices and feel that the stress and emotional strain it creates will not allow you to focus on operating the aircraft safely, then as a certificated airman you must declare yourself unfit and not operate the aircraft. This Local and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters will defend your individual right to exercise your certificate responsibly.
A member at another Local confronted a similar situation a few years ago, and although briefly taken out of service, he was not disciplined in any way for exercising his rights and responsibilities as a certificated airman. Indications are that Amerijet is strategically maneuvering to have scab pilots fly their freight to their destinations. Clearly, our crewmembers would not want to be accused of aiding and abetting such an act and risk their reputations. The company should have as much sense regarding sullying its
corporate reputation by aiding a company with such atrocious safety policies. It should also be concerned these actions could legally make other carriers a primary target of the job action.
Local 747 will do everything in its power to ensure the other customers of our carriers are not harmed by Amerijet' s actions. We went to great lengths with the Miami Teamster Locals to guarantee the picket lines would not interfere with other operations, which are very close to Amerijet's operations. We will continue to exercise our power judiciously to protect our professions.
This crisis may continue for some time, the first 1 2 hours have been very successful but we must maintain our vigilance and our support for the Amerijet pilots must grow. If you are interested in supporting the effort, please email Business Agents John Liebenow at j [email protected] or Doug Turner at DouglasJTurner(g),comcast.net. A grassroots fund-raising campaign will begin shortly to supplement the Amerijet crewmembers' Teamster benefits.
I would like to acknowledge the efforts of ABX Air Captain Dave Ross, and Business Agent John Liebenow, and Local 769 Business Agent Daisy Gonzales for their contributions to the Airline Division's first Multi-Local Strike Committee. Their face-toface communication with the Amerijet crews over the last several weeks was critical to this campaign. Locals 747, 1224, 769 and 986 joined forces to create the Strike Committee. We also have received support from the pilots of Capital Cargo International and the Allied Pilots Association (American) pilots to ensure Amerijet crews can get jumpseats home.
I continue to urge each of you to lend your full support to the Amerijet crewmembers. Our continuing support will have a positive impact for our profession. If you have any questions or concerns during these turbulent circumstances, please call the union hall or contact me via email.
Fraternally,
Captain Dan Brannan
Trustee, Local 747
08-29-2009 | 10:03 AM
#70
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 0
Something else to keep in mind the pilots who are non union who could be intimidated into moving the struck freight under threat of loss of employment are more likely to become the targets of an organizing effort.
If I recall correctly,"X" pilots where pushed into crossing the picket at UPS in 97, at least one was fired for refusing later to get his job back, within a year "X" pilots had voted in the Teamsters because they understood clearly what their management thought of them.
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