Rez O. Lewshun
Save the Profession
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2004
- Posts
- 13,422
I'd go for the Pilots union instead of the industrial union....
AirTran pilots considering switching unions
By KELLY YAMANOUCHI
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Friday, December 05, 2008
AirTran Airways pilots are set to consider whether to switch representation from their independent union to the Teamsters or to the Air Line Pilots Association.
The National Pilots Association, the independent pilots union at AirTran, represents more than 1,600 AirTran pilots and is weighing whether to merge with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a large industrial union, or the Air Line Pilots Association, the nation's largest pilots union.
The Teamsters and ALPA will each deliver presentations to the board of the National Pilots Association next week and will discuss terms for delivering presentations to the broader National Pilots Association membership.
That would be followed by a referendum to determine which of the three unions AirTran pilots prefer, and potentially a vote on a merger.
"The NPA leadership desires nothing but the best for our pilots as far as representation and we are, at the request of our pilots, exploring all options to strengthen their representational bargaining agents," said National Pilots Association president Mike Best.
But the plan for a referendum and potential union merger could be derailed by ongoing campaigns to collect authorization cards for the Teamsters and for ALPA, each to petition the National Mediation Board for an election to take over representation.
AirTran executive vice president of operations and corporate affairs Stephen Kolski said the company does not plan to participate in the matter of who the pilots choose to represent them. "If there's going to be a change, when that change happens, we'll bargain with the replacement union," he said.
Underlying the efforts to explore a switch of representation are the unresolved contract talks between AirTran and its pilots, who have been haggling over a new contract for years and are in mediation on the matter. The company is currently seeking a 12.5 percent reduction in pilot costs, according to the union. Last year, the pilots recalled the union's then-president and vice president, and subsequently voted to reject a proposed labor contract.
AirTran pilots considering switching unions
By KELLY YAMANOUCHI
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Friday, December 05, 2008
AirTran Airways pilots are set to consider whether to switch representation from their independent union to the Teamsters or to the Air Line Pilots Association.
The National Pilots Association, the independent pilots union at AirTran, represents more than 1,600 AirTran pilots and is weighing whether to merge with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a large industrial union, or the Air Line Pilots Association, the nation's largest pilots union.
The Teamsters and ALPA will each deliver presentations to the board of the National Pilots Association next week and will discuss terms for delivering presentations to the broader National Pilots Association membership.
That would be followed by a referendum to determine which of the three unions AirTran pilots prefer, and potentially a vote on a merger.
"The NPA leadership desires nothing but the best for our pilots as far as representation and we are, at the request of our pilots, exploring all options to strengthen their representational bargaining agents," said National Pilots Association president Mike Best.
But the plan for a referendum and potential union merger could be derailed by ongoing campaigns to collect authorization cards for the Teamsters and for ALPA, each to petition the National Mediation Board for an election to take over representation.
AirTran executive vice president of operations and corporate affairs Stephen Kolski said the company does not plan to participate in the matter of who the pilots choose to represent them. "If there's going to be a change, when that change happens, we'll bargain with the replacement union," he said.
Underlying the efforts to explore a switch of representation are the unresolved contract talks between AirTran and its pilots, who have been haggling over a new contract for years and are in mediation on the matter. The company is currently seeking a 12.5 percent reduction in pilot costs, according to the union. Last year, the pilots recalled the union's then-president and vice president, and subsequently voted to reject a proposed labor contract.