Cape Air Union Situation
 

This goes out to all you Cape Air guys and gals. What's the latest with the vote between CAPA and the IBT? I've been following the negotiations memos posted on the 9K pilots website, got a letter from the IBT dated 12/1/09, and have checked out Cape Air Teamsters website as well as the CAPA website. However, I'm curious to hear what all the line pilots are thinking about the vote and the details behind the NMB's decision to have another vote.

I interned for the Cape Air a little over a year ago, had a great time flying as an FO, and am planning on returning once CFI'ing gets me to ATP minimums. I'd just like to know a little more about what direction the pilots are wanting to take the union situation.

Feel free to PM me as well.

Right now we're in the voting stage. The voting instructions have been sent out by the NMB, and we're placing our votes either online or by phone until January 13th. At that point the votes will be tallied and we'll know one way or another.

If CAPA gets the vote, then really nothing happens. The IBT goes away and negotiations continue as they were. If IBT gets the vote the negotiations will have to start over again, but management has already said they'll honor the LOAs worked out by CAPA over the upcoming ASAP program and CAHIMS.

I won't say who I voted for, but those who know me and my background have an idea. :)

A new election is in progress.
I believe all airline pilots should have union representation. In this case the only real union is IBT. There was much speculation that CAPA is a management dominated organization. The NMB validated this when they nullified the election based on management interference. In the hand full of negotiations CAPA held there was no attorney present representing CAPA. just the attorney representing management. CAPA said their attorney was available by phone or Email. (you’ve got to be kidding me) During the Amerijet strike you heard nothing from CAPA, affirming their aversion to national organized labor issues. Several pilots were terminated when management decided to enforce work rules which hadn’t been enforced in years. Did CAPA rush to their defense….?? 9Kers its time to bring in a real union.

Who all is allowed to vote in this election? Are FO's allowed to vote this time around even though they don't have seniority numbers?

How have the roadshow meetings with the IBT been? How about CAPA?

More importantly, have the two unions said what they hope to accomplish if voted in?

As far as I know, the same people who were allowed to vote in the last election are allowed to vote in this one. The fact that FOs aren't allowed to vote is absolutely ridiculous in my mind...I'd hoped the NMB would have made sure that every pilot on the seniority list got a proper vote. Guess not. :rolleyes:

Actually, the biggest thing that needs to be fixed is FOs not being put on the seniority list by DOH. Whichever union ends up sticking around needs to fix that. It's simply not fair, and is really paints the picture that FOs aren't important around here (and that's not true).

I've been to an IBT meeting post 747-shakedown and was impressed. There are probably lingering issues, but well, CAPA can't support itself financially. I'm going against what I said in my last post by saying this, but CAPA lost my vote when they said that the pilots should get AOPA legal insurance. What kind of union says that? A real union has a responsibility to its members to support them during any kind of disciplinary action, either by management or the FAA. This does require an attorney much of the time, and a union needs to be able to provide one. CAPA cannot. I want real legal representation, not some amateur AOPA insurance. We're professionals here.

I completely agree with you about FO seniority. Besides it just being right, I think it would make those FO's on the farm team a lot more willing to stay around when/if hiring starts to pick up.

When are the results of the vote going to be announced?

Nevermind, I just saw this on google news:
Cape Air Pilots Vote to Rejoin Teamsters -- WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

So I guess now the real work starts huh?

That's really the key. I mean honestly, if the IBT is able to negotiate in enough of a pay raise, I'll stick around. I know a lot of people would, too.

i'm sure you'll probably get your recall shot before we get a contract

Maybe, but I'll be taking an LOA from Cape if I do get recalled. If it's enough of a pay raise and my QOL/pay sucks back at XJT, well, I could see myself coming back off LOA.