Jamers

Anyone who believes these letters is a fool. Ask any of us who were around during last year's vote. The big argument last year was the promise of a fake internal pilot group coming in to solve everyone's problems. There will be mutch more anti-union stuff to come, so everyone needs to buckle in for the fight.

vtbvtdk

Someone should post this in the break room in your HQ, and then people should mill around it talking. I wonder if that would have the same effect on management as it does on the pilot group??

The Juice

ALPA has prepared a response to the Buddy letter. ALPA breaks every lie in the Buddy letter down and tears it apart. I assume you will start to see them and if you can post them up in the breakrooms, when mgmt takes them down, put more up.

It is ALL Colgan pilots responsability to informs their fellow Colgan pilots about the upcoming vote. When the vote is in progress if is our responsability to make sure your fellow pilots have voted. This is the last shot as far as I am concerned. If it were to fail I would be ashamed of my pilot group.

CAPTAIN INSANO

Only the uninitiated are going to believe a letter coming from management. Too bad so many at Colgan are just that, good luck to you guys trying to get ALPA in, you are gonna NEEEED it.

The Juice

Here is more propaganda from the master of propaganda Buddy Casey



November 21, 2008
ALPA IS NOT A QUICK FIX
Dear Colgan Pilot:
Many of you have never been involved with a union before and may wonder what it
would actually mean to you and the Company if ALPA wins the election. A number of you have
been told by ALPA supporters that you will get higher wages and other improvements if you
vote for ALPA. That is not necessarily the case. The Company is only under an obligation to
bargain in good faith with ALPA if it wins the election. This means you might get more than
what you presently have the same as what you presently have, or less than what you presently
have. ALPA can not guarantee you any improvements.
A number of our pilots are under the impression that ALPA would immediately achieve
gains for the Colgan pilots if they are elected. This also is not true. The average time for
achieving contracts in these examples was 24 months.
Pinnacle started negotiations with ALPA in the summer of 2004 to amend its contract. It
has now been over four years and there still is no contract at Pinnacle. The reason is that
ALPA’s economic demands at Pinnacle have been so unreasonable that the company has not
been able to agree to a new contract. We do not know how long it would take for Colgan and
ALPA to reach a contract. It would depend on the positions of both ALPA and the Company at
the bargaining table
These are the facts. We hope you will consider these points in the upcoming election.

FlyJSH

The following is a quote from The Colgan Pilots ALPA Organizing Committee.

Quote:

Colgan OC Response to "Pinnacle Pilots" and CCAir


November 21, 2008



To our fellow Colgan pilots:



Yesterday, Colgan managers circulated among the pilot group an unsigned, undated flier entitled “The Pinnacle Pilots Want Your Flying”. The letter indicates that ALPA represented pilots at Pinnacle are negotiating to protect themselves and the results of these negotiations could affect us.



The letter seems to suggest that because Pinnacle pilots have the legal right to negotiate over job security and economic issues that are important to them, and are doing just that, we should reject ALPA representation. The letter goes on to imply that we should rely on management to safeguard our interests and protect us. Before considering that outcome for yourself, you should be aware that it’s not just Pinnacle pilots who have made proposals regarding Colgan flying. Pinnacle management has also proposed that the Pinnacle and Colgan seniority lists be integrated and that we work under a single contract under certain circumstances.



We are willing to put our names at the bottom of this letter because we believe the answers to certain questions are obvious to all of us and we are willing to have that discussion with every Colgan pilot. Those questions include:



§ Do we really want to trust our careers to, and rely on suggestions about our future from, people who won’t sign their names to a letter, aren’t able to answer our legitimate questions, and can’t be held accountable in the future?



§ Does Colgan’s record over the past few years provide any basis to believe that management has the power and will to protect us?



§ Wouldn’t it be better to have representatives we elect sit at the bargaining table, get advice from our own experts and lawyers, and argue for our pilot group’s future and best interests?



§ Why does management want us to forgo the same rights that Pinnacle pilots have and why are they trying to build tension and mistrust of fellow pilots?



§ And why, despite management’s professed desire to talk and work openly with us, do they wait until the start of an election to send unsigned letters and recycle old stories like CCAir, all while they continue to remove ALPA information from non-work areas in crew lounges?



We want to answer your questions and so does the Pinnacle pilot leadership. Neither pilot group knows or can predict the decisions that management will make except to know that the corporation’s interests will be served. They may decide to keep us separate or merge us; operate fully independently or give each pilot group the opportunity to bid vacancies at the other; combine more operational functions than have already been integrated or not. No matter what their decision is, aren’t we better off with a seat at the table and a voice in our future?



Management tried the same old CCAir story last year and we will repost the OC’s response from July 31, 2007 on our webpage.



The choice before us is clear. Do we want a seat at the bargaining table – like management has – or do we want them to speak for us? The attached handout contains additional information about the allegations made in yesterday’s letter. Pinnacle MEC Chair CA Scott Erickson has appeared at many of our events and will continue to join us at our information sessions to answer any questions you might have. You can also forward questions to him via the link on the top right of our website.



For more information about ALPA, the merger policy, or representation, please visit our website at Crewroom > Organizing Home > Welcome Colgan Pilots or ask any member of the Organizing Committee listed below.



In unity,

The Colgan Pilots ALPA Organizing CommitteeEnd Quote

Note: Since this is an open forum and I do not feel I have the right to release other people's information, I have removed the names of the Committee members which were included in the above email.

FlyJSH

Continuation of the Colgan OC response:

Quote:

Defining the Relationship between Pinnacle and Colgan:
Management and Pilots

“I believe those pilots who have experience with our Company can recognize the valued
relationship we have shared, which has not changed as a result of the sale [to Pinnacle
Airlines Corp.]”

Mike Colgan, Letter to Colgan Pilots, July 30, 2007

With all due respect to Mr. Colgan, anyone flying for Colgan today understands
that no aspect of the above prediction came true. Colgan is no longer a family operation.
We are directly controlled by a large holding company located in Memphis, Tennessee –
Pinnacle Airlines Corp. Pinnacle Airlines Corp. also controls another carrier – Pinnacle
Airlines. There is, of course, great uncertainty as the holding company’s plans for both
carriers. They may merge the carriers, they may build up one and draw down the other, or
they may try to exchange assets. However, the pilots of Pinnacle Airlines have a
significant advantage over us in dealing with this uncertainty – they have representation,
a seat at the table and an opportunity to protect themselves when such decisions are
made. By contrast, as things now stand, we must rely on our managers at Colgan to
protect us.

In determining whether you want to continue to rely on Colgan management (a
management which is completely controlled by Pinnacle) to protect you, or whether you
want to protect yourself, please review some of the events which have occurred since
January 27, 2007:


Change in management personnel. Gone are Mike and the Colgan family, here
to stay are managers put in place by Pinnacle.

Consolidating the corporate headquarters in Memphis.

From the Memphis Business Journal, November 3, 2008:
“Pinnacle Airlines Corp., which is the holding company for Memphisbased
Pinnacle Airlines, Inc. and Manassas, Va.-based Colgan Air, Inc., is
looking to consolidate operations in the Nonconnah Corporate Center near
the Memphis International Airport or relocate to the One Commerce
Square Building in Downtown.
Both plans involve moving Colgan Air’s operations to Memphis.”

And the Memphis Commercial Appeal, November 20, 2008:
“The Memphis and Shelby County Industrial Development Board awarded
a tax freeze to Pinnacle Airlines Corp. on Wednesday for the company’s
proposed consolidation of its national corporate headquarters in
Memphis.”


Whipsawing the pilot groups. All of us received Pinnacle Corp.’s (unsigned,
undated) letter entitled “Pinnacle Pilots Want Your Flying”, in which “Colgan”
management discusses proposals made by the Pinnacle pilots at the bargaining
table. The letter is obviously intended to raise suspicion and concern about the
efforts of Pinnacle pilots to protect their members. What it actually shows,
though, is that Pinnacle and Colgan management teams are cooperating and
sharing bargaining notes. Why are they doing so? The answer is obvious – they
understand that they gain strength when they work together. They also understand
that they gain more strength when we are divided. Why should we allow the two
managements within the holding company to work together while planning to
divide and conquer the pilots? Both managements have a voice – why shouldn’t
both pilot groups?


Taking away the pilots’ voice. Last year, Colgan management promised to be
more open and to listen to line pilots about their concerns on scheduling issues,
pay rates, recognition of pilot seniority in scheduling and bidding for vacancies
and other issues. They have not listened, and more important, they have not acted.
Now, a year later and with the election starting, management has been
hosting open forums and making promises to implement new scheduling policies,
reevaluate wage levels (our Q-400 pilots make less than almost every comparable
Pinnacle pilot makes for 50 seat jets!), and be more responsive to pilot concerns.
Do you believe the talk today, or the actions of the past 21 months?
You need as much information as possible to make your decision to join ALPA.
Pinnacle and Colgan management raised many questions in their letter and we encourage
you to review our responses. For more information, visit our website at
Crewroom > Organizing Home > Welcome Colgan Pilots and feel free to call any Organizing Committee member listed
below. If we do not have the answer immediately, we will make sure to get it to you.

We would also like to thank all of you who joined Pinnacle MEC Chair CA Scott
Erickson at our meetings in IAH, EWR and IAD earlier this week. We thank him and the
Pinnacle MEC for their support and look forward to him joining us again at meetings in
December. In the meantime, here are some issues that have been raised by your fellow
pilots and our answers:

Issue 1: Is it sufficient that management will make an effort at “Keeping You Informed”?
Answer 1: We don’t just want to be informed, we want to be involved.
Issue 2: “The Parent Agreement would effectively impose the ‘Pinnacle Pilots Seniority
List’ on you, the Colgan Pilots, and integrate Colgan with Pinnacle Airlines Inc. into a
‘single transportation system’.”

Answer 2: We strenuously object to Pinnacle’s release of specific proposals made in
bargaining. Doing so is highly unethical and violates the rules of mediated bargaining.
That said we have a number of responses:

If Pinnacle is Pinnacle and Colgan is Colgan, why does Colgan have
knowledge of what is happening in Pinnacle’s bargaining? We have been told
repeatedly that Pinnacle and Colgan will remain separate operations, and yet see
evidence each day that the carriers are merging. It started with combining IT and
other administrative operations and now Colgan HQ will share a building with
Pinnacle in Memphis. The fact that Pinnacle is sharing information with Colgan is
also critical: Managements are working together, pilots should too.

Pinnacle Corp. is bargaining our rights away, and we have no power to stop
it. Right now, Pinnacle Corp. and the pilots of Pinnacle Airlines Inc. are
discussing contractual issues that could have an effect on us as Colgan pilots. We
have no voice or role in this discussion, but we will be bound by the contract
Pinnacle Corp. agrees to even if we had no role in its development.

If there is seniority integration, and both parties are represented by ALPA,
the integration will be conducted under ALPA merger policy.

Item 3: “In the world according to the Pinnacle Pilots and ALPA, Colgan’s new
equipment will be flown by pilots on a combined Pinnacle-Colgan pilot’s [sic] seniority
list.”
Answer 3: If there is a merger between the carriers – a decision that Pinnacle Corp. must
make itself, either in a contract or otherwise – then there will be an integrated seniority
list. That list will be made up of both of our pilot groups. As with other issues, you can
have a voice and representation in the merger process or allow Colgan to take care of
you. We can do that as follows:

We can develop the list! Under ALPA’s merger policy, the two pilots groups
work directly to negotiate the combined list, or present their case to a neutral
arbitrator. Neither ALPA National nor members of Pinnacle Corp. management
would play a role in the negotiations for an integrated list. It would be up to the
pilots of Pinnacle Airlines and Colgan Air to develop a merged pilot seniority list.
The merged list could include fences that prohibit cross-bidding between
equipment.

Future opportunities at Pinnacle could be flown by Colgan pilots. Today,
Colgan is expanding, but that has not always been the case and will not always be
the case in the future. If the carriers are integrated and no fence agreement
prohibits it, Colgan pilots would have new opportunities to expand their careers.

Item 4: “If there was an integrated seniority list, who would win bids on your flying,
you, or more senior Pinnacle pilots?”
Answer 4: Under ALPA merger policy we have the possibility of jointly negotiating
fences to prevent cross-bidding.
We find Pinnacle Corp.’s emphasis on protecting your seniority ironic
considering our own experience bidding lines at Colgan, and especially in light of Harry
Mitchel’s memo on October 27. In discussing the decision to transition Beech pilots to
the Saab out of seniority, Mr. Mitchel wrote:
“Taking all the above into consideration, the decision was made to transition these
several junior Beech Captains to the Saab. The current economic situation Colgan
was facing was a major factor. I realize this has not gone over well with the
majority of our First Officers which I fully understand.”
Pinnacle Corp. intentionally transitioned pilots to new equipment out of seniority
for its own benefit, but they want to use the idea of protecting our seniority to make you
fear the Pinnacle pilots. What sense does that make? It is obvious they do or say whatever
they want to suit their own needs at the moment. The only way to defend ourselves is to
gain representation and bargain collectively with the assistance of ALPA and our
colleagues at Pinnacle.

Item 5: “If you were on an integrated seniority list, who would be better protected in a
layoff, your or more senior Pinnacle pilots?”
Answer 5: Pinnacle Corp., as noted above, promotes Colgan pilots out of seniority, in
this case sacrificing senior Saab FOs. Without representation, Pinnacle Corp. could even
furlough pilots out of seniority, such as putting all Beech pilots out on the street to avoid
the costs of transitioning them to other equipment.

Negotiated fences could prevent this outcome. In the event of a seniority list
integration under ALPA merger policy, our Merger Committee (comprised solely
of Colgan pilots) could seek to negotiate fences or other limitations on crossbidding
between pilot groups.

If we were a merged carrier, former Pinnacle pilots would share our fate. In
the event of a furlough in a world without fences, the furlough would be
conducted in reverse seniority order, without regard to the prior carrier, base or
equipment. Accordingly, junior Pinnacle pilots would share our fate and some of
those pilots would be furloughed in the event the merged carrier reduces its
flying, either from jets or turboprops.

Item 6: “The scope proposal also limits Colgan to the aircraft that we have now by tail
number with no additional aircraft to be flown by Colgan pilots. What would this do to
Colgan First Officer opportunities to upgrade?”
Answer 6: The Pinnacle pilots are negotiating a legally binding collective bargaining
agreement. Without the opportunity to move forward together, the Pinnacle pilots
must develop language to protect their careers. Many of the negotiated contractual
elements the Pinnacle pilots achieve will trickle down to the Colgan pilots as our holding
company, Pinnacle Corp., continues to merge our operations. It is true, some of what they
negotiate could be to our detriment. That is why we need to join the Pinnacle pilots at
the bargaining table.

We urge all of you to find out more about ALPA and representation. Please visit
our website at Crewroom > Organizing Home > Welcome Colgan Pilots or ask any of us listed below for more information.
We will also be hosting a series of events throughout the election period and you will
have the opportunity to raise these same questions with Pinnacle MEC members and
other ALPA officials.

In closing, we thank you again for all of the support you have shown during this
drive. We look forward to working collaboratively with the pilots of Pinnacle Airlines
Inc. to develop solutions that solve our mutual problems and protect our individual
careers.
In unity,
The Colgan Pilots ALPA Organizing Committee

End Quote

Note: Since this is an open forum and I do not feel I have the right to release other people's information, I have removed the names of the Committee members which were included in the above email.

(spacing and paragraph indenteation errors may have occurred during cut and paste)

The Juice

Thanks for posting this.

Guys remember, 1.95% is nothing compared to the benefit. First off, it is taken pretax, like your medical, which will lower your taxable income. Also, you dues are tax deductible so you will get on average 20% of that amount back at the end of the year based on 2009 tax rates.

$3000 gross - $600 (Taxes)= $2400 Net with non union

$3000 gross - $58.50 (Union dues)= $2941.50 (Taxable)- $588 (Taxes)=$2353.5 Net. Write off the $58.50 as a deduction in a 20% tax rate you can add another $11.70 to your net. (Based on end of year)

The total is $34.80 for the union at $3000 gross, or 1.16% of your pay...not 1.95%

So you 2nd year FO's 1.16%= 30 cents an hour
And 3rd year CA's 1.16%= 49 cents an hour.

Do you really think a union and a voice is not worth pennies? If all we were to get is 401K match (like the pinnacle pilots have) you have made more money.

nwa757

What the letter fails to mention is that it is Pinnacle profits that bought Colgan those new Q airframes. Union pilot company profits.

I hope you all see through these letters and realize the underlying meaning is this: "please don't vote in ALPA, because that means we will have to pay you more and give you better schedules....and that is a bad thing for professional pilots."

I have faith you guys will all vote this time, in order to get us all on the same page, instead of underbidding each other all the way to nothing.

sinsilvia666

I am amused that colgan plagiarized parts of the anti-alpa letter....that says enough.