Possible Strike by ALPA Staff: ALPA, both nationally and in the FDX MEC office, depends on numerous staff employees in the daily operation of our union. These staff employees are unionized themselves and are divided into two groups for the purposes of union representation and contract bargaining with their employer, ALPA. The two groups are simply designated Unit 1 and Unit 2.

Since March of this year, Unit 2, which represents the administrative employees, and ALPA have been negotiating a new contract with a goal of reaching agreement prior to the expiration of the current contract extension at midnight on May 10, 2006. The respective negotiating committees have been working diligently to achieve a contract, but an agreement has not yet been reached.

In the event of a strike, all ALPA offices that are ordinarily manned by Unit 2 employees will be closed. This will include the FDX MEC office in Memphis. We will not request any ALPA member or employee – management or otherwise - to cross a picket line of striking employees at ALPA offices, and no effort whatsoever will be made to replace striking employees.

In the event of a strike, which may well be honored by Unit 1 employees (professional staff such as legal, communications, etc.), communications with both local and national union offices that are not of an emergency nature should be handled by e-mail, as that will be the most reliable and easily accessed venue for committee members and block representatives.

There will also be a new link on the MEC website listing emergency contact numbers. Again, it will be best to do all possible non-emergency communication with your union by e-mail in the case of a strike. The listing on the website for committees and block representatives should only be used in the case of urgent matters.

Be advised that this is still only a possible strike by the ALPA staff. The strike has yet to be initiated. We will keep you apprised of the status of this situation, and will announce the closing of the office if necessary.

We hope that a new Unit 2 contract is agreed to soon. If an agreement is not reached, however, we will work diligently to maintain essential services during a Unit 2 walkout while still respecting their right to strike.


Will the FEDEX-ALPA negotiators (and all other ALPA negotiators) stop all contract talks if Unit 2 strikes. If they continue wouldn't that make them scabs? If the essential services for Unit 2 are maintained, then aren't the working employees of ALPA scabs as well? I'm not taking either side but it should make one think about the nature of work stoppages. Just something to think about on the way back to MEM. Flame away

Its true... the parents do eat their young

know I now why Alpa secretaries and paralegals make 90k a year...their union i is better at negotiating contracts than ours!!!!!maybe we should elect UNIT 1
as our 'legal bargaining body".

Will ALPA unit 1 conduct a sympathetic strike against itself?

It will be like watching a coyote chewing its leg off to get out of a trap.

They'll never strike! They know it would ruin the company and cost all those jobs.. Oh wait a minute. Wrong negotiations. Sorry

" Early this morning, ALPA and the administrative staff represented by their union, Unit 2, reached a tentative agreement on changes to the Unit 2 contract. Unit 2 members will be voting on this TA over the next 24 hours. As such, all ALPA offices remain open pending the outcome of the contract vote"

It's all about NEGOTIATING a contract.

Strike Initiated by ALPA Staff: As we communicated earlier this week, Unit 2, which represents ALPA’s administrative employees, and ALPA have been negotiating a new contract with a goal of reaching agreement prior to the expiration of the current contract extension at midnight on May 10, 2006. Early on Thursday, May 11, the two sides reached a tentative agreement on changes to Unit 2’s contract and over the past 24 hours, Unit 2 members have been voting on this TA. This morning, Unit 2 announced that a majority of its members voted to reject this TA and as such the Unit 2 members have initiated a strike effective at 12 noon EDT today.
We hope that a new Unit 2 contract is agreed to soon. If an agreement is not reached, however, we will work diligently to maintain essential services during a Unit 2 walkout while still respecting their right to strike.


And then negotiating fails. If this was any airline we would expect the mechs, flight attendents, ramp agents to show unity and strike along. I expect nothing less from ALPA.

What are you talking about?

All the MEC offices are closed and will remain closed until the labor strife is settled.

BTW
When was the last time in recent (other than the UPS teamster strike in 1997) did other labor groups support the striking Party with a sympathy strike.................it was in the IPA's best interest to sympathy strike because they were in negotiations at the time an were counting on IBT support when it was their turn.

Northwest Pilot strike in 1998? Did the mechs and FA's support that (even if no airlplanes flew......??)

Northwest Mech Strike in late 2005........Did the FA's or Pilots support.

Polar strike in 2005.........did the mechs and other Rampites honor that Picket line?

American Flight Attendant strike in 1993........Did APA or mechanics and rampites honor the FA picket Lines?

Not saying it happens, just what everybody has expected with strikes.
If all bodies strike, contracts happen faster. If NWA pilots, flight attendants, etc.. struck with the mechs, what do you think the outcome would have been? Continued service or a resonable contract? Instead now it the pilot's turn to deal with the company and next will be the Flight attendants.
I know the MEC offices are closed but it also said essential services will be covered. That is what scabs do. If we strike and ground services are able to move the freight, they are doing the same as if a chunk of pilots crossed the lines and kept essential services moving.
What's the difference? If all our services were stopped, would you pay your dues? Think of the millions that ALPA stands to loose if their employees were united across the board. That's how contracts get signed.

By the way, Redeye, I'm not attacking anyone, I just think it's an interesting topic to chew the cud. I really don't expect Unit 1 to sympathy strike...