Ok, Here it goes. I am trying to get a CFI Union thread started here. I have been advised by the moderators that this may be polarizing, so lets try to keep it professional here.
I have seen very few schools out there that have a CFI union. Some reasons stated for the lack of representation are that the Instructors don't stay long enough to get it done. There is a school in Phoenix that teaches ab initio students for a foreign carrier that has a union, with a good contract!! I am surprised at the lack of unionized schools out there. It would seem that any employee would give some strong consideration to joining. There may be many people who will not want to be represented by a union while working as a CFI. Who really knows.
Lets here from people who are instructing to hear opinions on this and share some ideas.

 

.... Lol......

 

Why is that? There is a place with a CFI union, and a few others that may do well with one. Why is that so funny?
Just getting a discussion going here.

 

The school that teaches ab-inito probably has a good contract with the foreign airline paying them a fair amount of money. The cfi's there may be in it for the long haul. Most typically aren't. The question is what are you and others willing to put into forming a union?

 

Rama, Absolutely right on! It would seem a bit silly to try to form a union at a flying club with 10 instructors that teach part time and have other professions.

I was in fact referring to the schools that teach foreign students. These academies, as you say, are funded by their foreign carriers. The question which you brought forward as to"what are you and others willing to put into forming a union"? is a relevant one. I have been involved in union organizing at a very low level, and it didn't really take too much. The unions look to see what interetst is shown initially, and we all go from there.

There are some of those academies that have no union, and it would be intereting to hear from some people as to their thoughts on why they don't have one.

 

I was part of that union in Phoenix for a foreign carrier. It was affiliated with IAM (International Association of Machinists). While I disagreed with the political preferences of the IAM national leadership. I was very happy with our local union. I think the pay and benefits were only topped by the Doss IFS instructors in Pueblo. The local union was greatly responsible for maintaining the pay and benefits. It was a great place to work.

 

Fluglehrer, I was also a part of the IAM. The benefits provided by the company (per our union contract) were worth quite a bit. I was well paid and protected by the best benefits in the industry. Lower insurance costs with nearly no out of pocket.

I also agree that it was the union that maintained these excellent conditions. After many years of employment I was offered an "early out package" that was also well worth the time spent.

I am not quite understanding why there aren't more Instructors joining unions. It would seem that the market in Phoenix and even a few other areas would provide excellent opportunities for people to get organized. There are schools out there funded by foreign airlines that may be great places for a CFI to spend some time.

Any ideas out there concerning what is going on? Is there any group trying to organize? What union?

 

You really need to approach the career CFIs- the CFI demographic in the US is predominantly young and male, precisely the group that tends not to vote according to the political scientists. This group has weak collective awareness and they do not vote much or tend to act for collective goals. They are not old enough to have developed the kind of collective awareness needed to permit forking over dues to a union. But if you could get the attention of the older ones, it might be something they are interested in.

 

I'm not sure if I'm a career CFI but I've given several thousand hours of instruction over the past few years. I've finally landed a part 135 gig but it's part time. The CFI gig has always been my bread and butter. I've worked as an independent contractor and built up my own business. I'm not sure exactly where I rank in the order of CFI's but I'm probably in the top echelon as far as pay.

I don't see what a union would do for me. I work when I want and fly what I want. I charge whatever I can get away with. True, I don't get benefits but that's the story with anyone who is self employed. I've worked hard to create my business and treat it as such. I spend time generating new business, marketing, following up with old students, getting referrals, etc.

Most of the flight instructors I've run across come in three flavors. The younger ones are only looking to build time so they can fly for ABC regional. The next type have other careers and teach on the side around their primary occupation. The third type are career CFIs (or ones who have been around the patch a few thousand times) and are already established making decent earnings.

If you pay your dues and are good at what you do it will payoff. Most instructors I meet aren't all that great and don't stick around long enough to get better. It makes my job easier as the competition isn't that stiff.

 

CFI Guy, I was once a freelance CFI myself. I did also work around another profession while instructing. Like you, I did build up my own business, and I did OK with it.

You did mention the benefits! You said you didn't get any from your CFI job. That is one area the unions are strong at. Benefits!
My benefits added up to thousands a year, and believe me, I needed all of it.

You did seem to be saying that having a union is of little use to you as a freelance sort of guy. That may be true what you are saying, though I am certain that you are capable of seeing what an advantage it would be for Instructors at the foreign airline academies to have a union.

I have read a CFI union contract, and there are many great clauses negotiated by the union on behalf of the membership. Paid Vacation, sick time and more. I even read an article in the contract that allowed a CFI who lost his medical to continue working as a sim instructor. That's job security built in to the contract that everyone may some day need. The people represented in this contract also were allowed comp time for time worked on their normally scheduled day off. That was paid time!

I see your point that you may not personally think that having a union is relevant towards what you do as a CFI. It may be relevant towards any CFI working for an academy, such as Phoenix or Bakersfield. Their circumstances are different.

How about hearing from some Instructors in Phoenix or Bakersfield?
It would be interesting to hear some of your thoughts.