MikefromMT

Hey guys/gals,
I noticed ALPA has been taking out dues ever since I got off probation (About $300 so far this year). I called ALPA national and they confirmed that we should not have dues withdrawn until we reach the 1 year anniversary, even if we are off probation due to the 400 hour mark being reached.

However 10 minutes later, ALPA called back saying they decided to just start having everyone pay at 400 hours.

Can anyone else confirm what I could swear I was told during indoc; That we would have no dues until 1 year whether or not we were off probation already? In my ALPA meeting the specific statement from ALPA was essentially:

Protection at 400 hours, no dues till 1 year unless you want to start paying earlier.

Mesabah

I'm not an attorney, but I play one on here. Personally, I would pay dues the second you get off probation, if that's 400 hours, then pay dues.

DeadHead

Welcome to DALPA!

MikefromMT

Why would that be, mesabah? Your contractual coverage is is based on the contract: 400 hours. Beginning to see $300 come out of your paycheck is irrelevant to contractual coverage and was stated clearly as at 1 year.

full of luv

Well I don't think ALPA cares about your "probation" so to speak, they consider you an "apprentice" until they don't.
Then you start receiving the worlds most expensive magazine to read on the john.

gloopy

When you say "clearly stated" do you mean a guy at a dinner said one year? If so, that's generally the case. DL is somewhat unique with the 400 hour gateway, also a negotiated benefit. Most probationary pilots are apprentice members for exactly one year to coincide with their probationary period. Once off probation, dues start; that is common throughout the industry. When you are no longer on probation, you can vote and have access to the system board, etc which is why you pay dues in the first place.

AFAIK they have been taking dues at the end of probation for a while. Its great that you called and asked, but its absolutely fair to charge dues once off probation so if that's the way it is so be it. Its really nothing to get wrapped around the spray deflector about. Its common practice and many thousands of pilots before you did the exact same thing. No dues coincides with probation. Dues coincide with non probationary pilots. That's the way it is pretty much everywhere.

Mesabah

I've seen some crazy crap going on in aviation from being on both sides of the table, I've learned that words, and contracts don't mean anything. However, if the union takes money from you, they have to legally provide for you.

gloopy

And they do legally provide for you just like every other non probationary, full fledged ALPA member pilot, because at that point that's what you are.

MikefromMT

Yes, it was at the dinner. I guess I look at it differently as I just take them at their word.

Burn Notice

Welcome to the party.