Colgan Letters swaying your thoughts about ALPA?

[PCL_128]

I just can't get past these union dues. How can you take so much of the little money I have. That is my big gripe.

You think 1.95% is a lot of money? Remember, the only reason that you just got that payraise is because the Colgans are scared of ALPA. Just imagine what ALPA will be able to do once a new contract is negotiated.

unless I am a loser I will not need any of the ALPA services.

So, only "losers" end up with a medical problem and lose their medical? Only "losers" are falsely accused of sexual harassment? Only "losers" are concerned about seniority rights? Only "losers" get fatigued after a 16-hour duty day when the company still wants you to fly a part-91 ferry? I'm beginning to think that Bushhatesyou is right: you probably are management.

 

[suupah]

Everyone just calm down. People want immediate results from their 2% dues. The sad reality is, some people get stuck here for 6 years. It might not be a bad idea to improve things here for the long haul

 

[vectorvictor]

Not as stupid as you, with your kick azz grammar and all.. Seriously though, you are either managment or just plain ignorant.

Agreed.

 

[vectorvictor]

I just can't get past these union dues. How can you take so much of the little money I have. That is my big gripe. The magazine sucks and unless I am a loser I will not need any of the ALPA services. ALPA protects the weak. Someone inform me why I have to pay so much in dues?

If you drive a car you probably pay car insurance even though you plan not to crash your car. You probably shell out the money here for the health insurance nut you're not planning on getting sick. If you have a family you probably are betting some company you are going to die and paying them for life insurance. What happens if you loose your medical for 6 months? What happens if you lose it forever? As good as you are, what happens if your FO locks up the brakes and takes you off a runway somewhere? What happens if an injured passenger sues YOU for negligence? That 2% could be the best money you EVER spent. It could mean the difference between a really bad time in your life and ruining you financially and legally for the REST of your life.

You now work for a publically traded company. You no longer have the "family" protection when it comes to this type of stuff. Probably never really had it in the first place but we were all too ignorant to worry about it.

If you can convince us that the in house committee will bring this all to the table, you might sway some votes. Truth is I don't think that you can. I'm not in favor of a union for a pay raise. I'm not in favor of a union to stop from doing the Colgan every once in a while. I'm in favor of a union to protect my livelyhood and ultimately protect my family from the tremendous liability and risk in my profession.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

The company pays your paycheck.....unions fill in the amount....


Hows that for a nice working relationship...

 

[Dr King]

That is right....

The expenses are reported as income. So an ALPA officer might get a living allowance to have an apt. in Wash DC. The allowance is reported as income.

Same with pilots. What is the company came to you and said "your living allowance each night in the hotel while you are on a trip costs us $50. We are adding that $50 in the formula in addition to your wages and benefits. So we will report that entire sum to the IRS."

Now you are paying taxes on $100K a year instead of $45k a year to fly a saab.

unionfacts. is a union busting website... do a search on this webboard for more info...

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=53627

The mis-leading numbers posted by this anti-Labor group are intended for the gullible. Please don't think that just because it's posted on the internet, it's all true.​

The totals for all of those employees reflects money spent in their name...but not included in their compensation. For example, these nitwits are including unemployment insurance payments, medical insurance premiums, dental insurance premiums, pension contributions, per diem, money spent on airline tickets, and other items that are assigned a "value" under the DeLay-initiated LM-2 reporting requirements passed a couple of years ago.​

A few years ago my company sent me a statement that showed the "total compensation" and "value" of my job. According to their calculations I was receiving compensation of over $300,000 a year! They included the value of the non-rev travel benefits I had, and all of the stuff listed above. Since my actual compensation was less than half of their interpretation, their propaganda became joke fodder at my house and in the crew room.​

Add up all the cost you represent to your company (using their perspective) and it's easy to see that pilots are paid waaaaay too much! Naturally, the management toads who've led many of us to Red Ink Land aren't compensated nearly enough. Want proof? Go to unionfacts.com...where the truth lives!​

Info on bergman ​

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?p=1021148&highlight=unionfacts#post1021148​

Your wron. Money recieved for housing is not considered part of your salarfy. These are tax free exemptions given to you by a company for living expenses--you dont have to report it, just like perdiem

 

[Dr King]

I urge all of our pilots to educate themselves. When they understand the facts, they will undoubtedly decide ALPA is best for all of us. The Organizing Committee at Colgan volunteered to do this with their own time and after looking at all the options decided to explore a relationship with ALPA. None of them are looking for credit, just to do what is right for Colgan pilots as a whole. Ask questions. Look for unbiased answers. Once you do that, you will understand why ALPA will represent us the best. We need represntation from a long standing professional pilot union. A legally binding contract with a grievance procedure.


www.alpa.org/colgan

1-877-GOT ALPA

Dont you think that the people organizing the pilot committee are doing the same thing. I just called then and joined their team. Its not just the two guys running it, they have alot of support from the pilots.

 

[PCL_128]

Your wron. Money recieved for housing is not considered part of your salarfy. These are tax free exemptions given to you by a company for living expenses--you dont have to report it, just like perdiem

The DOL requires unions to include that money in what they report. Remember, ALPA and other unions have different reporting requirements than corporations (due to anti-labor politicians).

 

[PCL_128]

Its not just the two guys running it, they have alot of support from the pilots.

Then why won't these pilots put their names out there for everyone to see? The organizing committee has put out a letter with all of their names and email addresses on it. Why does the "pilot committee" not include any names except the two management-picked leaders?

 

[Dr King]

You think 1.95% is a lot of money? Remember, the only reason that you just got that payraise is because the Colgans are scared of ALPA. Just imagine what ALPA will be able to do once a new contract is negotiated.



So, only "losers" end up with a medical problem and lose their medical? Only "losers" are falsely accused of sexual harassment? Only "losers" are concerned about seniority rights? Only "losers" get fatigued after a 16-hour duty day when the company still wants you to fly a part-91 ferry? I'm beginning to think that Bushhatesyou is right: you probably are management.

Im not going to be here in foru years when a contract comes through and we get a two dollar raise. We need something to change now so we can all benefit. Also, the chance of getting us a raise is very slim. Everyone in the airline industry has lost the ability to strike, especially with the recent court rullings agaisnt Northwest and Comair. Without the ability to strike the union will roll over and take it, their negotiating power severelyh decreased.

"16 hour days, sexual harrasment, failed PC", that is all I here from you ALPA guys. You sound like Bob Dole when he ran for president.You keep screaming these injustices that have nothing to do with what MOST of the pilots want. I dont want to pay money out of my pocket to protect somebody who should fail his PC. Trust me, Ive been through many PC and the guy on the right sucked, but they passes him without a problem. IRock is correct, the union protects the weak.