SharkAir

Oh come on, do you really believe that? How can anyone act in everyone's best interests? What's good for one group usually is contrary to what's good for another group. This is just the essence of politics.

Along those lines, in the case of airlines, I think it's a fair argument to say that it would be difficult, if not impossible for ALPA, or any union, to act in the best interests of every airline.

ToiletDuck

Why? If you payed someone to mow your yard do you expect them to do it or are you expected to go out and help? You pay taxes to your city to fix the roads and I'm sure there are few with potholes near by. Do you go out and fill them up on your own or do you expect the city to do it?

If someone wants to volunteer time to work with their union then have at it. However, it isn't unreasonable for a person to expect to get what they are paying for. Teamsters makes money hand over fist with RAH. Tripple the pilot group in the past few years with no increase in representation. They are sitting on such a large pile of money it's almost robbery. Explain to me why I pay every two weeks to a group of men for a product and am considered lame if I expect to get it? People shouldn't have to donate their time. It's great they care and that they do participate, but they shouldn't be expected to. You are PAYING for a product they are selling. Some pay into the thousands each year. Why shouldn't they expect to kick back and say "Get me a good contract"? You're paying them well into the 6 figures they should get you a good contract don't you think?

My company expects results out of me when only paying in the $20's. I expect results out of our union when they are making in the $300's. If it's almost a requirement that I volunteer my time or nothing gets done then what am I paying for? I barely get by as it is.

SharkAir

Do they really make that much? Maybe I need to get into that.

See, I knew my aviation expertise would pay off somehow.

ToiletDuck

Yea someone posted what they make on the republicpilots.org board. I think he went from $326k to $320k and we were debating passing a hat around to help him in his time of need.

We should just pull a mangement move on them. Fire that guy and get two younger ones for the same price who are willing to work harder.

BoilerUP

You must be referring to IBT 1108...a Teamsters division that represents not only NetJets, but other fractionals as well.

IBT 747, your own local, represents Horizon, Kalitta, Great Lakes, North American, Gulfstream and RAH....who like NJA in 1108 is the proverbial 800lb gorilla of 747.

So what's the difference between the two locals?

ToiletDuck

NetJets origionally wasn't part of the Local 1108. There was no such chapter. They were origionally part of the Local 284. Powell, Price, Wentz, the business agents and former MEC members weren't happy with being in line with the truckers when it came to complaints and contract negotiations. They petitioned to have their own chapter which later was approved in 05 I believe. Their new chapter formed for them was the 1108. They then sought to bring in the other fractionals. If anyone at NetJets feels I'm in error please speak up. I've always been under the impression that their chapter was made specifically for that company and only later started to incorporate the others to give them more protection from being undercut by the competition.

TonyWilliams

So, are other unions OK, or is ALPA "it"?

ExperimentalAB

Okey doke folks. I for one am tired of this ALPA crap.

YES. I am pro-Union.
YES. I am even pro-ALPA.

But I am NOT pro SKW-ALPA.

ALPA has it all - the good, the bad, and the ugly. And without going into "brainwash" mode as others are, I will say that they have done good things overall for this industry.

My only request to those of you at SKW who plan on voting for ALPA. Think about what we have now, and try to imagine what life will be like in the near-future, and then the distant future, if ALPA does in fact get voted in.

I can tell you: In the short-term, Mgmt is going to have a sh!t-fit. Contract-talks are going to be absolutely miserable. Think ASA as a best-case scenario here. Any good, open communication the Pilot group has with mgmt is gone.

Longer term: Still without a contract, negotiations stalled, NOBODY is happy. mgmt still isn't, as they were stabbed in the back by us (and they should be ****ed), and they don't want to say yes to all our demands. We aren't happy because we can't get everything we want.

For those planning to vote yes, DON'T do it because some on this board are playing the guilt-card on you. Honestly, SKW Pilots don't owe them crap...it's the way of the world. And do NOT vote yes because you think you'll join the flow here...(way to go on that one). Think about it: How would they feel if we were union, they weren't, and we were bullying them into voting in ALPA just because we thought they owed it to us? Again, that is bullcrap.

Only vote Yes if you think I am completely wrong here...that you want to live through everything our colleagues are.

I will not vote yes because as long as Jerry and the gang are around, I know I'll have some of the best work-rules in the Regional's...I've worked for a sh!tty regional, and I've hated management before. I prefer a good relationship over an "ALPA-administrated" (I just coined that phrase so don't even think of stealing it!) relationship any day of the week and twice on tuesday.

NJA Capt

Partially right.

Here's the Cliffs Notes.
After 3 years of negotiations with Local 284, they presented us with a sub-par TA which they thought was unbeatable. The TA was overwhelmingly rejected (82%). Shortly thereafter the MEC was entirely replaced with a new MEC. The new MEC went to work and petitioned to break from the 284 and for a new local. Powell and the Local 284 did NOT support our decision to leave. Under guidance from Airborne's Local 1224, the new MEC was successful in completing the process ahead of schedule and was granted the Local 1108. The number "1108" is significant because that is the date of charter, Nov 8, 2005. The 1108 then completed the negotiations and presented the present day contract which passed by 84%.

http://www.ainonline.com/ain-and-ain...ws%5Bmode%5D=1
http://www.teamster.org/resources/me...junejuly06.pdf

ghilis101

absolutely wrong. you dont want alpa because youre AFRAID of management lashing back at you? a collective bargaining agreement is not a hostile thing. all youre doing is voting for your right to a contract, and giving yourself some protection.

You dont want a union because a union has never done anything for you? Good, lets all hope a union never has to. because when the crap hits the fan, its gonna be something big, and then the union will go to bat for you. If you really think you can take on Jerry and his a-hole slave driver brad holt if something bad happens to you, then youre dreaming.

this is not something to be taken lightly. you have rights. you need access to those rights. this goes way beyond your paycheck.