ABX Pilots on Strike
11-22-2016, 04:07 AM
#1
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2005
Posts: 1,273
ABX Pilots on Strike
Since I think many of us may just visit the FedEx sub-forum, and not the Cargo one, I figured people here may want to know that ABX pilots went on strike.
ABX Air cargo pilots strike outside DHL facility at CVG - Story
Keep an eye out, especially up at CVG for non-FedEx freight. I wouldn't want anyone flying something they weren't supposed to be flying.
ABX Air cargo pilots strike outside DHL facility at CVG - Story
Keep an eye out, especially up at CVG for non-FedEx freight. I wouldn't want anyone flying something they weren't supposed to be flying.
11-22-2016, 06:05 AM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: Standing in front of the tank with a shopping bag
Posts: 918
Originally Posted by Sluggo_63
Since I think many of us may just visit the FedEx sub-forum, and not the Cargo one, I figured people here may want to know that ABX pilots went on strike.
ABX Air cargo pilots strike outside DHL facility at CVG - Story
Keep an eye out, especially up at CVG for non-FedEx freight. I wouldn't want anyone flying something they weren't supposed to be flying.
ABX Air cargo pilots strike outside DHL facility at CVG - Story
Keep an eye out, especially up at CVG for non-FedEx freight. I wouldn't want anyone flying something they weren't supposed to be flying.
11-23-2016, 02:28 PM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2005
Posts: 1,273
Well, that was quick. Judge orders a TRO.
Federal judge orders striking pilots to get back to work
I feel bad for those guys...
Federal judge orders striking pilots to get back to work
I feel bad for those guys...
11-24-2016, 05:54 AM
#4
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Position: MD-11 Captain
Posts: 4,304
11-24-2016, 07:04 PM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,051
Originally Posted by Sluggo_63
Well, that was quick. Judge orders a TRO...
I feel bad for those guys...
I feel bad for those guys...
These guys make one of the toughest career and family calls by putting their paycheck on hold, during the holidays no less, because of the raw deal they've been handed all these years... and a judge orders them back to the line. Unsat.
11-27-2016, 08:20 AM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Posts: 207
Thanks for the ride home Tony C. It is always sweet to make it to homeplate for the holiday weekend and beyond. I appreciate the discussions we had along with the support of the FDX group. Although this was short-lived (I think that was expected to be the case..) hopefully it will be effective for us in the future.
11-28-2016, 02:47 PM
#10
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Joined APC: Jun 2008
Posts: 207
I it not my intent to belabor the FDX pilot group with the concerns surrounding the ABX Air pilot strike. The following message is written from a fellow FDX pilot [former ABX] who has summarized his opinion and factual information. If you who have not viewed this previously I recommend you to take a few moments to review this letter regarding our collective issues as an industry. Again, this is not intended to spark a debate about ABX, its parent corporation, Air Transport Int’l [ATI], or ALPA; I post this on behalf of a thank-you to Mr. Herron.
*************************
I am thankful by John Herron on Thanksgiving, 2016
Yesterday afternoon, a federal judge in Ohio ordered striking ABX Air cargo pilots back to work. According to those present in the courtroom, the judge said “the strike is over”, then left. Apparently, status quo strikes have occurred in the rail industry and I am told the distinction between management actions that constitute a “minor dispute” or a “major dispute” is important. The New York Times reports Air Transport Services Group management asked the judge to affirm the issues involved constituted a “minor dispute” that should be resolved through arbitration. (Airline Used by Amazon Wins Order to End Cargo Pilots’ Strike, The New York Times, Nov. 23, 2016).
As brief overview, Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) is a holding company that owns subsidiaries ABX (formerly Airborne Express) and Air Transport International (ATI). ATSG management has used this arrangement to whipsaw pilots against each other to suppress labor costs and alter working conditions to improve operating efficiencies. The ABX pilots commenced a status quo strike against ABX Tuesday morning at 2:30 AM because of numerous alleged status quo violations by management. The status quo violations were (1) management unilaterally rescinding vacations for newly upgraded Captains, (2) management failing to grant contractually required days off after exceeding emergency assignments, and (3) management violating day/night transition rules on many constructed lines.
This was not a union engaging in conduct to advance its bargaining position. Rather, it was a union responding to a reprehensible management group trying to repudiate a contract and violate the status quo after it created its own pilot staffing shortage. This also involved a few complicated legal concepts involving the Railway Labor Act that lawyers will likely argue back-and-forth until the end of my professional career, and thereafter. And this was a union concerned about long-term fatigue and safety, and fighting on behalf of professional pilots trying to protect their collective livelihoods.
As to the management group, reprehensible is a strong word. But I once worked at ABX. The pay and benefits were good, and for years the schedules were terrific. After the DHL collapse in North America, I worked Christmas Eve one cold rainy night in Ohio. I was stuck outside an aircraft – wet and cold – while waiting for people to provide a stairway because ABX was understaffed at the time. Regardless of the conditions and regardless of an impending furlough, I worked that day. And management ensured a furlough letter was delivered to my home, certified mail, return receipt, to my wife on Christmas Eve.
As to the pilot staffing shortage, management did not recall furloughed pilots who were at the top of their pay scales as required by the contract, and instead, waited for recall rights to expire and then tried to hire new pilots at the bottom of the pay scales. Next, management repeatedly threatened furloughs during negotiations, which the union repeatedly forestalled through letters of agreement. Each time, the union cautioned management about pilot understaffing. Next, as noted by a federal judge earlier this month when he denied management’s request for a temporary restraining order (TRO), “… by the end of the first quarter of 2016, approximately 40 percent of ABX captains and 33 percent of its first officers had already been forced to fly the contractually allowed emergency assignments.” Next, as peak approached, rather than work collaboratively with the union to resolve the pilot-staffing crisis, management initiated a claim in federal court to prohibit pilots from exercising their contractual rights limiting emergency assignments to 6 days per calendar year. That TRO request was denied by Judge Black.
As reported yesterday in The New York Times, increased scheduling demands caused considerable strain among the pilots, and the union was concerned the strain would become worse as peak arrived. “I can’t tell you how many birthdays, family events, anniversaries and even funerals our pilots have had to miss because of all these emergency flights,” a union representative said.
I know from experience that nobody wants to engage in a strike. Strikes often have devastating and lasting monetary and emotional impacts. As a union representative, I spent time on a picket line during the 17-day strike at Amerijet in September 2009. And as a union representative we supported the Spirit Airline pilots during a 5-day strike in June 2010. In a press release, my union President wrote:
As the Spirit pilots are preparing for the possibility of entering into a legal job action, [we]are preparing to stand behind them. … [We] issued an announcement to all members encouraging them to support the pilots of Spirit to achieve the contract they deserve by participating in informational picketing organized by the pilots of Spirit. Additionally, should a strike or a lock-out occur at the end of the 30-day cooling off period, [we] have vowed a refusal to fly struck work.
I disagree with some representations in the ALPA National “Fast Read” posted on this page, and here’s why.
• ALPA National implies a “no-strike” letter of agreement is something it was stuck with. But ATI pilots didn’t have to ratify it while they were ALPA members, and ALPA National had plenty of time to fix it. As I recall, the brief sequence of events was (1) a tentative agreement was negotiated, (2)
ATSG whipsawing occurred and undercutting concerns were raised, (3) the predecessor union was reorganized and undercutting concerns were addressed, (4) ATI pilots decertified the predecessor union and elected to be represented by ALPA (155 votes ALPA, 0 votes IBT, 1 vote other), (5) ATI pilots ratified a tentative agreement while represented by ALPA.
• Moreover, during this strike, we were dealing with a holding company that flagrantly repudiated working conditions and work rules causing long-term fatigue, unnecessary stress and an unsafe working environment for cargo pilots; and yet, ALPA National suggests they were compelled to
abide by an antiquated LOA that never should have been agreed to to begin with. I reject such a premise. I realize there are some risks associated with my position, but I think the risks can be mitigated.
• ALPA National says ATI pilots voted overwhelmingly to join ALPA and decertify the predecessor union “just a few years ago.” But ALPA was “duly designated and authorized to represent for the purposes of the RLA” on Nov. 5, 2009 (NMB Case No. R-7217). That was 7 years ago.
• ALPA National says IBT's demands at the negotiating table would likely result in the shutdown of ATI. But I know the union negotiators at the table and this assertion is bogus and I believe it is based upon false presumptions about the true monetary value of "home base" travel, and other things.
In my opinion, the actions this week by ALPA National emboldened ATSG management and facilitated further whipsawing. But don’t take my word for it. The ATSG Chief Financial Officer was quoted: “[ATSG’s] second airline, Air Transport International, is operating and will take steps to accommodate any extra demands caused by the pilot strike.” (Amazon Air Contractor Aims to Force Striking Pilots Back to Work, Bloomberg, Nov. 22, 2016).
It seems the real reason for not supporting the strike is retribution for filing a single carrier petition with the NMB. In my opinion, ALPA National is engaging in a mean-spirited contest of wills with IBT that helps no one. It not only doesn’t help the profession, it hurts the profession. I suggest leaders set egos aside, and get together to work out whatever differences that apparently still exist.
I want to be very clear about this point – I do not fault our elected leaders at FDX ALPA for the lack of support during the strike. I have spent enough time here to know our elected leaders and volunteers are dedicated to improving our pay, rules and working conditions, and to advancing the cause of cargo pilots and our profession. I am very grateful for their service.
To conclude, even though a judge ordered striking pilots back to work yesterday, there are upshots. First, vacations that had been unilaterally rescinded were reinstated. It seems a lot goes on behind the scenes when TROs are issued. Second, DHL’s crafty arrangement with multiple carriers performing similar work with similar cargo aircraft on the same ramp – perhaps with the goal of whipsawing labor – won’t achieve such ends. Overall, the cargo pilots at Atlas, Kalitta and Southern Air stood strong. Atlas pilots did not fly an aircraft that had been towed to a different part of the airport. At-will pilots, not even organized and not even defended by a contact, declined work and their decision supported by their managers. A few ATI aircraft flew, but not many. The strike made headlines in major newspapers coast to coast. Forbes magazine wrote about it. An aviation industry economist said: “Call it a canary in the coal mine or a shot across the bow, but this is happening now … We are going to see pilot wages rise and problems like this for the next 10 to 15 years.” (Pilot strike at cargo airline serving Amazon, DHL as holidays near, Reuters, Nov. 22, 2016).
The striking pilots are grateful to line pilots for all the support they received. ALPA line pilots from Delta, United, Spirit and Jet Blue delivered food and coffee, and provided professional and emotional support. Air traffic controllers provided support. The picket line never needed anything, and the cold rain only energized their spirit. They are now stronger than ever. The striking pilots I spoke with specifically asked me to extend their gratitude to you for supporting them. As I said previously on this page, and it bears repeating, serious strike preparations occur when workers have their backs against the wall because workers rarely if ever make up for the wages lost during a strike. The men and women who struck this week tried to improve their livelihoods for themselves and their families. But there’s more – they stood up for our profession. The ABX, Atlas, Kalitta and Southern Air crews proved to management that they have each other’s backs and they are a force not to be reckoned with. And ALPA line pilots proved we are united in improving our working conditions and work rules. The downward spiral of working conditions among smaller cargo carriers and smaller passenger carriers must end, and I applaud our professional peers who made the difficult decision to stand up to management regarding the status quo violations. For these things, and many others, I am very thankful.
*************************
I am thankful by John Herron on Thanksgiving, 2016
Yesterday afternoon, a federal judge in Ohio ordered striking ABX Air cargo pilots back to work. According to those present in the courtroom, the judge said “the strike is over”, then left. Apparently, status quo strikes have occurred in the rail industry and I am told the distinction between management actions that constitute a “minor dispute” or a “major dispute” is important. The New York Times reports Air Transport Services Group management asked the judge to affirm the issues involved constituted a “minor dispute” that should be resolved through arbitration. (Airline Used by Amazon Wins Order to End Cargo Pilots’ Strike, The New York Times, Nov. 23, 2016).
As brief overview, Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) is a holding company that owns subsidiaries ABX (formerly Airborne Express) and Air Transport International (ATI). ATSG management has used this arrangement to whipsaw pilots against each other to suppress labor costs and alter working conditions to improve operating efficiencies. The ABX pilots commenced a status quo strike against ABX Tuesday morning at 2:30 AM because of numerous alleged status quo violations by management. The status quo violations were (1) management unilaterally rescinding vacations for newly upgraded Captains, (2) management failing to grant contractually required days off after exceeding emergency assignments, and (3) management violating day/night transition rules on many constructed lines.
This was not a union engaging in conduct to advance its bargaining position. Rather, it was a union responding to a reprehensible management group trying to repudiate a contract and violate the status quo after it created its own pilot staffing shortage. This also involved a few complicated legal concepts involving the Railway Labor Act that lawyers will likely argue back-and-forth until the end of my professional career, and thereafter. And this was a union concerned about long-term fatigue and safety, and fighting on behalf of professional pilots trying to protect their collective livelihoods.
As to the management group, reprehensible is a strong word. But I once worked at ABX. The pay and benefits were good, and for years the schedules were terrific. After the DHL collapse in North America, I worked Christmas Eve one cold rainy night in Ohio. I was stuck outside an aircraft – wet and cold – while waiting for people to provide a stairway because ABX was understaffed at the time. Regardless of the conditions and regardless of an impending furlough, I worked that day. And management ensured a furlough letter was delivered to my home, certified mail, return receipt, to my wife on Christmas Eve.
As to the pilot staffing shortage, management did not recall furloughed pilots who were at the top of their pay scales as required by the contract, and instead, waited for recall rights to expire and then tried to hire new pilots at the bottom of the pay scales. Next, management repeatedly threatened furloughs during negotiations, which the union repeatedly forestalled through letters of agreement. Each time, the union cautioned management about pilot understaffing. Next, as noted by a federal judge earlier this month when he denied management’s request for a temporary restraining order (TRO), “… by the end of the first quarter of 2016, approximately 40 percent of ABX captains and 33 percent of its first officers had already been forced to fly the contractually allowed emergency assignments.” Next, as peak approached, rather than work collaboratively with the union to resolve the pilot-staffing crisis, management initiated a claim in federal court to prohibit pilots from exercising their contractual rights limiting emergency assignments to 6 days per calendar year. That TRO request was denied by Judge Black.
As reported yesterday in The New York Times, increased scheduling demands caused considerable strain among the pilots, and the union was concerned the strain would become worse as peak arrived. “I can’t tell you how many birthdays, family events, anniversaries and even funerals our pilots have had to miss because of all these emergency flights,” a union representative said.
I know from experience that nobody wants to engage in a strike. Strikes often have devastating and lasting monetary and emotional impacts. As a union representative, I spent time on a picket line during the 17-day strike at Amerijet in September 2009. And as a union representative we supported the Spirit Airline pilots during a 5-day strike in June 2010. In a press release, my union President wrote:
As the Spirit pilots are preparing for the possibility of entering into a legal job action, [we]are preparing to stand behind them. … [We] issued an announcement to all members encouraging them to support the pilots of Spirit to achieve the contract they deserve by participating in informational picketing organized by the pilots of Spirit. Additionally, should a strike or a lock-out occur at the end of the 30-day cooling off period, [we] have vowed a refusal to fly struck work.
I disagree with some representations in the ALPA National “Fast Read” posted on this page, and here’s why.
• ALPA National implies a “no-strike” letter of agreement is something it was stuck with. But ATI pilots didn’t have to ratify it while they were ALPA members, and ALPA National had plenty of time to fix it. As I recall, the brief sequence of events was (1) a tentative agreement was negotiated, (2)
ATSG whipsawing occurred and undercutting concerns were raised, (3) the predecessor union was reorganized and undercutting concerns were addressed, (4) ATI pilots decertified the predecessor union and elected to be represented by ALPA (155 votes ALPA, 0 votes IBT, 1 vote other), (5) ATI pilots ratified a tentative agreement while represented by ALPA.
• Moreover, during this strike, we were dealing with a holding company that flagrantly repudiated working conditions and work rules causing long-term fatigue, unnecessary stress and an unsafe working environment for cargo pilots; and yet, ALPA National suggests they were compelled to
abide by an antiquated LOA that never should have been agreed to to begin with. I reject such a premise. I realize there are some risks associated with my position, but I think the risks can be mitigated.
• ALPA National says ATI pilots voted overwhelmingly to join ALPA and decertify the predecessor union “just a few years ago.” But ALPA was “duly designated and authorized to represent for the purposes of the RLA” on Nov. 5, 2009 (NMB Case No. R-7217). That was 7 years ago.
• ALPA National says IBT's demands at the negotiating table would likely result in the shutdown of ATI. But I know the union negotiators at the table and this assertion is bogus and I believe it is based upon false presumptions about the true monetary value of "home base" travel, and other things.
In my opinion, the actions this week by ALPA National emboldened ATSG management and facilitated further whipsawing. But don’t take my word for it. The ATSG Chief Financial Officer was quoted: “[ATSG’s] second airline, Air Transport International, is operating and will take steps to accommodate any extra demands caused by the pilot strike.” (Amazon Air Contractor Aims to Force Striking Pilots Back to Work, Bloomberg, Nov. 22, 2016).
It seems the real reason for not supporting the strike is retribution for filing a single carrier petition with the NMB. In my opinion, ALPA National is engaging in a mean-spirited contest of wills with IBT that helps no one. It not only doesn’t help the profession, it hurts the profession. I suggest leaders set egos aside, and get together to work out whatever differences that apparently still exist.
I want to be very clear about this point – I do not fault our elected leaders at FDX ALPA for the lack of support during the strike. I have spent enough time here to know our elected leaders and volunteers are dedicated to improving our pay, rules and working conditions, and to advancing the cause of cargo pilots and our profession. I am very grateful for their service.
To conclude, even though a judge ordered striking pilots back to work yesterday, there are upshots. First, vacations that had been unilaterally rescinded were reinstated. It seems a lot goes on behind the scenes when TROs are issued. Second, DHL’s crafty arrangement with multiple carriers performing similar work with similar cargo aircraft on the same ramp – perhaps with the goal of whipsawing labor – won’t achieve such ends. Overall, the cargo pilots at Atlas, Kalitta and Southern Air stood strong. Atlas pilots did not fly an aircraft that had been towed to a different part of the airport. At-will pilots, not even organized and not even defended by a contact, declined work and their decision supported by their managers. A few ATI aircraft flew, but not many. The strike made headlines in major newspapers coast to coast. Forbes magazine wrote about it. An aviation industry economist said: “Call it a canary in the coal mine or a shot across the bow, but this is happening now … We are going to see pilot wages rise and problems like this for the next 10 to 15 years.” (Pilot strike at cargo airline serving Amazon, DHL as holidays near, Reuters, Nov. 22, 2016).
The striking pilots are grateful to line pilots for all the support they received. ALPA line pilots from Delta, United, Spirit and Jet Blue delivered food and coffee, and provided professional and emotional support. Air traffic controllers provided support. The picket line never needed anything, and the cold rain only energized their spirit. They are now stronger than ever. The striking pilots I spoke with specifically asked me to extend their gratitude to you for supporting them. As I said previously on this page, and it bears repeating, serious strike preparations occur when workers have their backs against the wall because workers rarely if ever make up for the wages lost during a strike. The men and women who struck this week tried to improve their livelihoods for themselves and their families. But there’s more – they stood up for our profession. The ABX, Atlas, Kalitta and Southern Air crews proved to management that they have each other’s backs and they are a force not to be reckoned with. And ALPA line pilots proved we are united in improving our working conditions and work rules. The downward spiral of working conditions among smaller cargo carriers and smaller passenger carriers must end, and I applaud our professional peers who made the difficult decision to stand up to management regarding the status quo violations. For these things, and many others, I am very thankful.
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