And as for ALPA I have had to call our local teamsters office in Texas a couple times. They have been nothing but mean and rude to me. They seem to have the attitude that it is my privilege to be sending them dues. For this reason, I am happy to listen to what the ALPA people have to say. I can't say if I would be willing to switch; just that I will listen.

 

There's no excuse for any union to be rude to it's members, period. In no way am I implying you may have been; there's no reason for a union member to be rude to the worker bees on the other end of the line and vice versa...again, not infering or implying you were, but I have known some guys who have been complete jerks.

Don't know when you last called the Houston office, but they moved and consolidated with Local 1224 in Ohio. The Locals remain seperate, just combined the operations to save cost. And with Sowell gone, there's no need to have the office where he wanted it and they paid through the nose to make him happy.

You are doing the right thing. Ask questions. Don't just accept the answer, verify it. After all, they want even more of your money than you pay now.

Ask the guy from ATI that ALPA is parading around it's OK to sign a concessionary contract to get someone else's 767's and flying. (He did)When IBT said they would not sign a contract that whipsawed pilot groups, he went to ALPA, who said they'd sign it. If they'll do that, what will they do to Horizon when Alaska...or someone else...wants something that will cost your jobs?

And ask yourself why the very people who actively aided Sowell in taking over $250,000.00 in union dues from Local 747 that were supposed to be there to support you...are now behind the move to change unions.

Ask the hard questions. And then decide whether you are better off with the guys in flashy suits who come in and buy you top shelf hooch, tell you what you want to hear and promise you the world; or the guys who may not tell you what you want to hear, but tell you the truth and won't quit working for you.

 

Here is the bio of the mediator assigned to Horizon Marvin Sandrin.

http://www.nmb.gov/activ-rpts/odarch.html Click 02-12-10

 

Any other info would be great Pigg. Thanks. Seems that he has been around the block.