There is still much talk around ASC about the IPA sending out some type of communication very shortly. Anybody know anything?? Supervisory management is "right on the cusp" and can be EASILY persuaded at this time!!!

right on the cusp- dude who cares. easily persuaded- if and when, there will be no pizza party and fun party hats.

I will bet that flight qualified supervisor pay is raised just prior to any communication from IPA which involves a solicitation of cards.

Get ready for your raise, Geoff <G>

{ASSOCIATION TO POLL MEMBERSHIP ON UPS FLIGHT QUALIFIED SUPERVISORS}

The IPA Executive Board today announced plans to conduct a non-binding
straw-poll of Association members to gauge support for organizing
UPS's flight qualified supervisors. "Over time the responsibilities
and duties of UPS check airmen have changed," said IPA President
Bob Miller. "Many of these individuals are now asking for our
help in protecting their pensions, wages, and working conditions."
Miller said the Association wants to make sure it has the backing
of an overwhelming number of IPA members before taking any next
steps. "Due to the nature of the decision, the Executive Board
felt that it was appropriate to seek the input of the current
IPA membership," stated Miller. The non-binding straw poll
consists of three questions. Members will have from 10:00 a.m.
tomorrow, September 5, until the same time on Monday, September
24 to express their opinions. The polling is via the internet
utilizing the Association's secure server. Details on how to
participate in the poll will be e-mailed to all non-probationary
IPA members.

Before we vote shouln't we know what the IPA feels the benefits/ negatives of having the M pilots under the IPA?

probably would have been nice. A little official point/counterpoint article would probably be helpful. I'm in favor of bringing these guys under our roof but I talked with one of our guys that wasn't and it was sort of eye opening to hear that the other side has some good points. This is a non binding straw poll. The EB can do whatever they want to do with the issue anyway imho.

September 4, 2007





Fellow IPA Members:



For some time now, many in our group have discussed the option of seeking to include the flight qualified supervisors at UPS in IPA. In the past several months, we have been contacted by many UPS flight qualified supervisors requesting our assistance. Rather than rush to a premature decision, the Executive Board has pursued a careful analysis over a period of months that has attempted to review the issue from all sides. We have attempted to work through all the many legal, political, and safety aspects of such a move. In doing so, we consulted with legal expertise in Washington that has extensive experience in issues such as these.

We have also outlined our basic concerns to the Company. Here are our twin concerns:



1. Over time, the job of most UPS flight qualified supervisors has changed to primarily flying the line instead of “managing” the Company. With only the FARs to limit the utilization of these pilots, they are increasingly subject to unreasonable work loads. The core concerns here are protection of IPA work and safety.



2. Over time, the UPS Training Center has increasingly relied on flight qualified supervisors to train IPA members. Most of these pilots are excellent. Some, however, bring low levels of actual UPS line experience, and unnecessarily compromise the final training product. Again, our core concerns are protection of IPA work and safety.



In order to protect IPA interests and address our concerns of job protection, career advancement, seniority, and safety—an option on the table is bringing legal action that could result in the accretion of the great majority of flight qualified supervisors into the ranks of IPA. The exercise or bypass of this option is a decision for your elected Executive Board. While we are capable of making this decision, we have pledged, individually and collectively, to undertake this option only if a super majority of the IPA group—as now constituted—gives us the green light.

We intend to conduct a straw poll of the membership via a secure server located at IPA. The EB has decided that our target for proceeding down this path will involve a minimum of 80% of the active membership (non-probationary) participating in the poll and a minimum of 80% of those participating to answer “YES” to three questions:



1. Do you support the Association responding favorably to requests by UPS flight qualified supervisors for assistance in bringing them into the IPA?



2. Do you support IPA doing whatever is necessary to fight for the integration of these supervisors into the current IPA/UPS seniority list according to their date of hire at UPS?



3. Do you understand that the Executive Board may use other legal means to achieve our goals?



The reason for the first question is obvious. The second question reflects the reality that the supervisors may not wish to join IPA if they are going to be placed at the bottom of the list. UPS has already tried to dissuade any unionization of these pilots by threatening to “staple them to the bottom of the list.” This isn’t right. We believe that fairness and success in bringing these pilots into IPA will include their integration into the current list by date of hire. If you can’t support this—you should vote “NO.”

The third question is designed to get the point across that an accretion proceeding is just one tool that may be employed to meet the Association’s concerns. There are other tools—including direct negotiations with the Company—that could address our concerns. We will be results driven to achieve our objectives for this pilot group.

The IPA Straw Poll will be conducted beginning September 5th, at 10:00 a.m. and continue through Monday, September 24 at 10:00 a.m. Results will be announced by noon that same day.

Now is the time for the membership to speak on this important issue. We have reached the point in our due diligence that we need your input before taking further steps.



Fraternally,





IPA Executive Board



Bob Miller, President

Chuck Patterson, Vice President

Rick Derthick, Secretary

Cindy Driscoll, At Large Representative

Dean Cibotti, Treasurer

I didn't expect to see this letter on an open forum but I guess internet makes things easily accessible to all of us.

Well, since it’s here - I've talked to quite a few pilots about this issue before and to my surprise I found several who did not want mgmt pilots to join the union. Based on that, do you think we have enough pilots (min 80%) who’ll vote in favor? The way I understood the letter, if less than 80% of us are in favor, the union want touch it.

As much as it bugs me to just let "the Dark Side" into the union, I think it's the lesser of two evils. Whaddya all think?

I think you need to vote yes 3 times. Being close to your relative sen., many of the recent mgmt. guys will go in front of us, but it will stop UPS from hiring street Capts. and open these seats up to you and me. This is one of the main reasons I voted for Bob.