I just read on our company internal message board that we've attained 65% for the IBT, and that the NMB has notified the company as of today.

I am told that the IBT required 65% instead of the NMB mandated 35% as it will assure them the 51% vote required to bring the union onto the property.

I have mixed feelings about this as I think the company needs to be given a chance to do right by us, but some who've been there a bit longer have had enough.

Time will tell.

It would be funny if you guys went union and ended up being the highest paid airbus pilots out there.

Why not wait until you're profitable and bring a pilot's union (ALPA) on board?

I pay my 1.95% whether I like it or not...........

Teamsters do a better job of representing pilots than ALPA. Better pay and work rules...JP

Well, according to the ranger I talked to, they already had 16-17 days off a month! Good luck keeping that!

They will stand a better chance of keeping it with IBT vs ALPA. Go to APC.com and compare the pay rates for IBT pilot groups vs ALPA. IBT rates significantly better.

I did. The only company flying comparable big tin represented by ibt is usa3000, their pay rates are 15-20$ less per hour for comparable ac.

Again, I would wait 'till profitable and then try to share in the wealth. Isn't this a little early?

Skybus, the next Soufwess Aerolineas

Yes, it's extremely early to be organizing, but the pilots obviously feel their concerns aren't being addressed, and the problems are large enough to warrant the added risk of organizing early with a smaller group. There could also be some "buyer's remorse" on the part of the pilots in that they took the job with the low pay, restricted stock options, individual 3 year contracts, etc and now with some bad earnings and a struggling stock market and economy they feel the need for more job security than they have been getting from management.

I'll go to APC soon and look at those pay rates again and try to illustrate what I'm talking about. You have to compare apples to apples, if you know what I mean. JP

CE750,

Why would you be against a union? They would be able to negotiate a contract for you which will ensure better pay, work rules, and overall pilot QOL. You don't seriously think Skybus is going to suddenly give you industry average A320 pay ($140-160/hr for captains and $70-100/hr for FO's), and then suddenly increase your pay again after American, United, Delta, Continental, Northwest, Southwest, Alaska, and Airtran all vote in pay raises of 20-30% in the next few years). You need a union to do that.

I don't know much about IBT. I think you would be better off with ALPA, but any union is better than no union. Maybe you will get all your fellow pilots from criticizing you guys if you actually vote in a real union that gives you guys a fair contract.

Why would you want to wait for the company to give you a raise when a union can do it much sooner??