I am signing a card for both IBT and ALPA. Get enough cards for both so we can have a vote later on and have both as a final choice option.

The good news if we have IBT and ALPA as choices and they split 30% 30% with 40% no union, we still get a union.

 

I hope the 9L folks look at the "Big" picture. Do you want to be a pawn or part of the team? We have open arms and the same goals on the 9E side. Mgmt, well they have already shown otherwise....

 

Can any republic pilots share info about how teamsters are working out for you guys?

 

Alright guys put it this way, 9E has a much larger pilot group. This has a lot of people worried about who ALPA will want to please more, a large group or a small group. Colgan will be involved in the 9E negotiations whether they like it or not. If Colgan is ALPA, they will at least have a chance to make it a fair integration through one strong, organized and much more powerful combined group. If Colgan is Teamsters then they will be a small and comparitively weak union and will be crushed under the will of the larger parent company.

 

Did you read my earlier post? Most aren't too happy. There is no communication. They just spent $60,000 on a website that is rarely posted on by union leadership and when we get angry about it we get a "if you don't like it, vote for new leadership".

 

I would like to now why word of this supposed meeting hasn't been distributed to the Colgan pilots? The only announcement of this meeting I've seen is here. Are they planning on sending out emails, or conducting phone calls? This forum is clearly not the best way to reach the Colgan pilots who need to attend this meeting.

 

It is my understanding that signing ANY card is a request for representation by A union, not specifically XYZ union. I think signing both cards is just overkill (but I do like your thuroughness)

Please correct me if I am wrong.

I would LOVE to have representatives from BOTH unions in the same room AT THE SAME TIME for a real debate.

 

As of July 11, you are right. I stand corrected.

My main point was the IBT understands "per diem for day trips, block or better per leg, and extension pay".



While I favor one candidate right now, I am open to logical arguments pro and con for both. Some of the specific questions I would like to have answered are:

How are negotiations actually handled? Does the rank and file have the final say on a contract or is it the MEC? What level of involvement does the national have in negotiations (I'm just a stupid pilot not a specialist in contract law)?

Where do my dues go? How are they spent? who decides?

(For ALPA in particular)
You represent CAL and United, how can I be assured there will be no conflict of interest when my contract is negotiated?

My understanding is Pinnacle pilots want Colgan to join ALPA. If that is the case, why has there been no WRITTEN plan for merging seniority (if it occurs)?

(For IBT)
If I vote you in, will I get a giant, inflatable rat??? (soory, had to add a little levity)

 

Signing an authorization card says you wish the NMB to conduct an investigation/vote for a union. There is a difference though between the ALPA cards and Teamsters. Teamsters cards say if the company chooses to acknowledge the Teamsters, they can. No vote required.


I have a question for the Teamsters supporters. They claim ALPA won't represent Colgan Pilots IF there was a merger with PNCL. Why would the teamsters represent us better? If we merged with PNCL we would become ALPA, Teamsters would lose us, thus they have no reason to want to spend money and man power to support us in a merger.

One more question to those opposed to ALPA because in a merger ALPA will take PNCL side. What is ALPA national's role in a merger, and how will ALPA national help PNCL more then us? What is ALPA's merger policy? If you don't know, you probably shouldn't be saying anything about what ALPA will or won't do.

If we Colgan pilots come together develop a solid relationship with PNCL pilots, and IF A MERGER took place, an agreement could be reached that both sides could live with.

Of course that would require Colgan Pilots to learn how to not be defensive about everything that goes on around us, opening our eyes, and taking a proactive role in our futures. Until we can, no union out there can help us.

 

Thanks for the clarification on the cards. When you say "the company" is that management or labor? If it is management, I think we can all agree "the company" doesn't want ANY union.

You raise excellent questions. The kinds of questions I want answered before I cast my vote. That is why I want to talk to BOTH of them. As I have said, I am LEANING for the IBT, but ultimately I want what is best for me and my comrades.

To date, I have not found, and no one has shown me, ALPA's merger position. I would love to know it, and share it with my coworkers.

There is a vocal group in both companies who believes "they are gonna take my flyin". The folks I fly with and I DON"T WANT to take their flying. My guess is most of the PNCL folks DON'T WANT to take Colgan slots. But I think a statement by the PNCL group to the Colgan pilots could eliminate may of the fears (the statement must come from PNCL since it is a bigger group and since they already have a union and, by definition, have a unified voice.... something Colgan pilots do not legally have now).

We all want the same things: better working conditions and (when the money exists) better pay. I hope both groups can work together.

FWIW, you and I and several others of us ARE being proactive. In most unions, a handful of folks do a ****load of work while the masses just want to share the spoils. One big concern I have is how many folks seem to be anti union. I thought the only question was WHO would represent us, but I am starting to wonder if ANYONE will represent us. Fight the good fight, and may the best UNION WIN!