Glad to hear that. Can you give us an idea how it's been an improvement? What sort of events have taken place?

Thanks.

 

Well, for starters we've had the first picketing take place in AirTran's entire history. After five years of negotiations when our independent union wasn't doing anything to fight back, ALPA came on the property and immediately started helping us with SPC events and family awareness outings. Communications has also improved to an amazing degree. We've also got two sets of negotiating dates set for each month now, where we used to be lucky to get a few days every 3-4 months. Lots of improvement in a very short time.

 

Concur. I was very skeptical about bringing ALPA on, but I have been very suprised with progress that has been made. More in the last few weeks than the whole previous year. Of course, the progress hasn't yet yielded results. Here's hoping...

 

I really glad to hear it guys/girls.

I hope you guys can get the contract you deserve and I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir when I say this ....................... "got SCOPE!"!!!!!!!!

 

Well. Although I don't visit these forums much, I'll take the time to answer this. From what I read here, the replies might come from AirTran colleagues who haven't been with us long.

In all, we seeked presentations from both, the Teamsters and ALPA. The Teamsters pretty much told us they did not want anything to do with us and did not think much of our in-house joke of an union. (read link)

No deal for Teamsters, AirTran pilots union | ajc.com


So, with that said, all of our eyes then turned to the only thing that was out there....ALPA.

Nevertheless, as my fellow colleagues have said here, the progress and the changes are quickly becoming evident having conducted TWO informational picketing events, one at ATL airport, the other at the shareholder's meeting. This last one having achieved better results by having our shareholders frown at our "management".

We have now very powerful financial resources to engage in negotiations as well as ALPA national attorneys and negotiators joining or team. We're off to a somewhat slow start but are just placing all the pieces in the correct place before war starts.

Things here ARE going to get uglier as it is our view that we're gonna have to strike this airline to get our management to think with the correct side of their body. But when THAT time comes, and it will, OUR PIECES WILL BE IN THE CORRECT PLACE.

Fellows, I was ALPA for nearly 10 years in my previous carrier and I know that a lot of folks here do not have warm feelings for ALPA but believe me that this is a hundred times better than our in-house union. So far they are really helping us (ALPA national).

In the end...we shall see...but I'm prepared to walk the line.

Its time !!!!

 

I'm with ya, brother. It IS time and I'm sure most of us feel that way. A strike is way overdue.

 

I wish I made $60-100/hr for the amount of work I put in at AirTran. But I know we're a "low cost" carrier....oh well.

 

Let's all hope ALPA keeps all it's promised and puts out a max effort to get a contract. Picketing means nothing. If they come forward with serious proposals and hard core negotiations that get a contract, then great. If they ***** foot around for the next few months and have nothing substantial, then look out.

More important, I wanna see the Delta MEC Chairman lock arms and support AirTran. If he doesn't, you can pretty much figure out what will happen when he becomes the new ALPA President.

 

I agree. For the most part our pilot group is tired of getting nothing for its union dues. Nothing. I read that the Teamsters are trying to get the other employee groups together at Airtran for a vote. We'll see how that turns out.

If over the next year though we get the same old results out of the new ALPA gang as we got from the old NPA gang dont be sursprised to see another vote amongst the pilots. (This last one was over 85%.) The Teamsters noticed that this last vote was HUGE with a very high turnout. (They didnt want anything to do with us back then. But maybe they will next time around.......)

Not saying I support this notion. But we need to settle this contract thing anyway we can, with whoevers help we can get, to get the best results for "us" the pilots, the "dues" suppliers. Other airlines, even some of our direct competitors (one without a union at all), seem to be making "headway" while Airtrans pilots just keep getting the spiked shaft. Its been close to 5 years......and counting.

Boeing717Driver

 

If you don't like the results from the "new ALPA gang" as you put it, how about recalling them or doing whatever it takes to replace the slate of reps and/or negotiating committee people? You voted in a new union so give the UNION a chance to do the work that YOU ALL want done. If these guys don't cut it, replace them. If the next group doesn't cut it, then I would understand thinking about bringing in another union.

We cleaned house for the most part here at CAL and are onto a different way of doing things.