New to JB and ALPA, have questions
 

Hi everyone, I'm a new guy at JB and new to ALPA so I had some questions.

I'm trying to understand the union dues thing, and other deductions that ALPA is charging.

First, my understanding is that ALPA takes 1.95% of our pay. Now is that 1.95% of our guarantee/base pay?

If my pay rate is $53hr x guarantee, is that what ALPA will take regardless of how much you make? Or is it 1.95% of whatever we make? For example, If I work, 80 or 90+hrs per month, is ALPA taking more money?

There's also a deduction for ALPA Insurance, and I have no idea what that is. Is that something everyone pays? Or is that something you can get rid of since I already pay health insurance to JB?

Sorry for the newbish questions, just trying to figure everything out still...

1.9% of your gross pay for your paycheck basically. Some things like per diem don't count. But yes the more money you make the more your dues will be. The insurance thing I'm not sure about. Maybe you signed up for it when membership visited your new hire class? I don't have any insurance deductions.

Here's a link with everything you want to know. Besides the insurance thing. But that should be under your account on b6alpa.org.

JetBlue Master Executive Council

They automatically enroll you in their insurance policy. ALPA national should have sent you some information on that in the mail. You will have to call Alpa and cancel the insurance if you don't want it.

Ok awesome, great info, thanks!

I'll have to go dig out the old mail pile and see what I can find on the insurance. I could have sworn I saw it but I thought it was "You can sign up", not "you're already signed up!".

I had no idea it was that much for ALPA though! I thought it was just a pilot's base salary (Hourly x guarantee x 12). That seems like a lot of money if you manage to work a lot of hours!:eek:

Do you know what is a LOT more expensive to your personal finances?

Being non-union. It is a lot of money but the alternative is far more expensive. Just compare our pay and benefits (and work rules) to AA, UAL, DAL and SWA.

Union dues are tax deductible if you itemize.

Sorry, wasn't trying to insinuate that the union is bad or something. I had just thought every pilot paid 1.xx% of their base salary, which is why I asked here originally. I noticed my deduction was different on one check vs another.

I just find it odd that the more you make (As in, working more than guarantee) the more you pay. Again, thought it was all based on hourly rate x guarantee x 12, but thanks for clarifying everything!

Another thing you should consider is the union does much more than negotiate contracts. ALPA is instrumental in regulatory affairs that relate to our careers. Perhaps the best thing ALPA does is improve and advance safety in the industry. It's well worth 2% of my income just to have the safety team working in our favor. I'd urge you to poke around the website and attend some meetings, it will open your eyes to what your money is accomplishing.

Think of it like this, if you only get paid 40hrs in a given month then your dues will be lower.

Agreed. And if you ever need assistance with your medical, ALPA's Aeromedical department can work wonders with the FAA. That right there is worth every penny of my dues.