I have been quiet for a long time about the IBT vs ALPA situation that unfolded at K4. There is NO doubt that the services provided by ALPA are superior to those offered by the IBT. But let's set the record straight on a few items, YES the last contract took way to long, but if anyone reading this really believes that was solely the fault of the IBT 1224 and its leadership they need a drug test. The company, this company is the master of delay. THEY cost us years of negotiating time. The IBT and its lawyers were ready for years to tackle this contract. In the end, yes an issue with IBT cost a couple of months in the eventual signing and ratification of the current CBA but YEARS were lost due to the companies unwillingness to negotiate. YES, the union and the company opened the ENTIRE contract, all sections for negotiation the last time. I have no doubt that will not be the case this time around. NO one will dispute that some of the language in our current CBA is less than desirable but I can tell you that our negotiating team and IBT lawyers extracted the best language they could that the company would agree to at the time. I would also like to say that most of our issues with IBT where at the 1224 leadership level. We generally had excellent support from IBT national. Our lawyers that were at our disposal were among the best available, at times they needed to be reminded that they worked for us not the other way around but generally.. no almost every time they stood toe to toe with the company attorneys, so much so that in the end the company felt the need for outside counsel.
All that said I was not unhappy to see ALPA voted on the property. There were things that were done during that process from both sides that I still shake my head at but in the end the pilots of Kalitta Air voted overwhelming for ALPA and that is where we are today.
Much like a career in aviation we have all made choices that we wonder if they are the right one and we remark..."ask me when I retire". I believe we could say the say thing here, "was ALPA the right choice".... ask me in a few years I will tell you what I think then.
I firmly believe in the union system. The union is volunteers, I don't give a damn what umbrella you are under without good volunteers its useless. We have a great union team.
05-04-2024