Yeah. R2 is Reserve. The “2” should be replaced with *****

If you want to know about Atlas reserve on the 747, pm me...

Total fallacy to think the average Joe Sixpack crew member is somehow separate from "the union."

In point of fact, not only does every crew member in and of themselves constitute "the union", ALL union leadership, elected or otherwise, fly full time lines.

You do actually with "the union", thank God. Otherwise all these broken down airplanes would be flying without catering and/or operative lavs.

In my experience, none of that is true about the union.

The union is the entire pilot group (well, except for the flying management types and a very few line pilots who are their bag carriers - who, incidentally, are non-the-less represented by the union). The union officers are more engaged and communicative and out flying the line with the line pilots than ANY other union management that I have ever encountered in 30 years of airline flying.

They host a multitude of outside-of-work inclusive events year round.

The toxicity is absolutely created by the management. Fly with a cockpit full of union members and/or union leadership and you will have a professional and enjoyable trip.

Fly with union nay-sayers and all you hear is "whaaaaa" "whiiinee" .

The reason that some folks feel the union doesn't spend downtime with them is that they never attend any union events like the welcome parties, the roundtable discussions, the memorial services for our fallen brothers, or picketing events.

It's easy to feel left out if you're a slam-clicker.

I think Tired makes a point. It's easy to think some are on the "inside" of the union while others are on the outside of it. There are a lot of examples we can delve into about this which will cause this thread to melt down.

It's important that we acknowledge our problems along with our virtues so we can correct and improve. No person, system or organization is perfect.

We need to listen to these guys like Tired Soul.

Also, I'm a slam-clicker and I'm involved. You don't have to be "bro" to be a union brother. There are a lot of ways you can be involved. You'll see the good and the bad of the union. You'll see the limitations of what you can affect, but you will do your part to improve the situation here.

Honestly, we could use a few more people who are willing to step on their own appendages in the interest of our union members. So, you know, join us! It's bliss!

“The union” is made up of Atlas pilots who have signed non-disclosure agreements. There’s a BIG difference union volunteers and “the union”.

The NDAs definitely raise some suspicions. For the purposes of an investigation or handling sensitive issues they're a necessary evil. There could well be some shenanigans also. Disengagement by the general pilot group lets more shenanigans occur, however. Engagement, even at the risk of everyone in the room thinking you're a jerk, helps. Disengagement lets any process, good or bad, continue without you.

Everyone at 5Y who was hired after 2010 agreed to work at Atlas as an IBT pilot and work as stated by the current CBA. Our biggest issue seems to be that many in our group do not understand this. They come here thinking that the choice is theirs whether they should abide by our contract or not. It amazes me that in this age of smart phones and instant answers to questions, so many of us are ignorant of the "process" as dictated by federal labor law. We all need to go back and review what happened to this industry only a decade or so ago. The Big Three used existing federal law and the courts to destroy the financial security of their pilots.

Lastly, this group carries a bunch of very weak pilots who are either have no interest in helping our union initiatives, or are openly hostile to the IBT. These two traits seem to go hand in hand.

As an Atlas pilot you basically have three choices:

- Believe the Union gospel as being the self proclaimed 12 disciples.
- Believe the company narrative.
- Believe in your own independent options based on a piecemeal of tidbits of verified information and experiences.

Anybody with a brain should go with the last option. No degree required.
There is no party flawless or faultless in this process.
The Union communications seem to be inspired by Tolkien and George Orwell.
The Management seems to uphold more of a Trumpian philosophy, Make Atlas Great Again

If that upsets you, feel free to not buy me a beer. You won’t see me in the cliche pilot watering holes anyway.