For my friends at Colgan, please, please, please, do not consider the Teamsters for your union. Having left Colgan and come to a Teamsters airline, I can attest that the 747 is absolutely and completely WORTHLESS. I have seen a crew get fired because the hotel staff claimed they say them drinking inside of 12 hours, with no other proof than the hotels word against the pilots. The Teamsters one and only (and pathetic) lawyer recommeded that the pilots lie and admit to doing it and accept a company offered 30 day leave without pay rather than lose their jobs. Both refused, were fired, and now are paying out of their own pockets for legal counsel from the attorney the AOPA uses for its legal defense fund.

We've been in contract negotiations for nearly a year now and have had about three very vague updates on what's going on. The pilot group has no idea where we're at in negotiations.

We've got 175 guys being furloughed and to date the union has managed to do nothing to help alleviate the furlough. Or if they have, they've communicated nothing to the pilot group. The furloughees have heard nothing from the teamsters, except a few of them have gotten bills with threats of losing their jobs if they don't pay back dues that weren't taken out of their checks because our lovely $90,000/year business agent didn't get them added in the system in a timely fashion. Nice timing, Teamsters.

I could go on. Let it suffice to say that I HATE the Teamsters, and there is a rather large movement going now to start a decertification effort at RAH now. I would MUCH prefer we go ALPA, but some want to go independent, that is to be decided. But one thing's certain, Teamsters is terrible and firing them once you get them on property is VERY difficult.

For what its worth,
Str8

 

Colgan Pilots...a note from a Colgan Pilot,

Latest report from PNCL corp is we are losing 10 Saabs, not 4 as Buddy said. Also, no more Q's till Spring 2010. Think of the idea of furloughs with no contract on how to furlough, it scares me.

We need to start to protect ourselves against this management and their devious ways. We are going to be here for a while, me need protection. This is not a mom and pop shop anymore, we need an airline union like real airlines.

I gave our pilot group a pass last year because it was the first year and we were promised change, 1 year and no change. I can not accept another failed drive again.

Northeast guys, you need to get the word out to these new FO's. There are some crusty CA's who will never want a union. FO's need to inform other FO's about the need for a union.

If you need a card or info PM me and I will see you get it.

 

I saw a letter from Buddy floating around the opps room about parking 10 saabs but have been unable to find it on any of the crew sites. Where did you find the info about parking the saabs Juice?

 

Also, expect more threats like this as the union drive gets deeper and when the vote gets closer. They will tell you they are parking more planes, you are going to lose the q's if you have a union, they will tell you the union will bankrupt the airline ect..... Stay strong though, those are just tactics. They told us here at pinnacle we were going to lose all of our business if we didnt sign their contract offer back last year and we ended up not only staying in business but gaining the delta business as well.

 

Check out the latest quarterly its all in there. 10 saabs parked starting oct no Q's till mid 2010. Also they may cut dullas back if they can't get united to assume more of the handling costs. This is only the begining. Read between the lines and you can see what the are planning.
No more excuses, we need protection! Juice are u on the oc? I don't know if I can pm yet?

 

if you search pinnacles 2nd Quarter earnings report it mentions 10 saabs being parked and i think 12 markets closing but it wasnt any more specific than that

 

I've been with Colgan since early this year and already believe we DO need a union, which however I don't know. Seems like a lot of people have said ALPA will lead to a merger of seniority lists which could be bad for Colgan, but good for Pinnacle. And I am not sure how much teamsters has to offer us but i would really like to know more. Anyone know when this vote will take place?

 

For the last time...OUR LIST WILL NOT MERGE!!!! The arbitrator reversed his ruling on the alter ego....MY GOODNESS...

 

Well sorry its a rumor I heard floating around.

 

easy there v1, not everything is as it seems right now. there is still stuff in the works for colgan, and like higney said we should be hearing some more details fairly soon.