AirTran joins ALPA

[DoinTime]

ALPA Prepares to Welcome AirTran Airways Pilots
NPA Votes Overwhelmingly to Merge with ALPA

WASHINGTON—The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), is extremely pleased by the AirTran pilots’ overwhelming vote in support of a merger with the world’s largest pilots union. A landslide 87% of AirTran pilots cast votes in support of merging with ALPA, with more than 94% of eligible AirTran pilots voting. The National Pilots Association (NPA) currently represents the nearly 1,700 pilots of AirTran Airways.

“With this decisive vote, the AirTran pilots made it clear they want representation by a strong international union that is run by airline pilots and for airline pilots,” said Capt. John Prater, president of ALPA. “We look forward to working with the AirTran pilots and to providing the union’s unparalleled professional resources and expertise, as well as the support of other ALPA pilots in Atlanta and across the country, to help them achieve and enforce the fair contract they deserve.”

The merger decision must be ratified by ALPA’s Executive Board when it meets on April 28-29. If that happens as expected, the merger will be effective on May 1, 2009.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilots union representing more than 52,250 pilots at 35 airlines in the U.S. and Canada.

 

[BCpilot81]

Well, I guess some people have to learn the hard way

 

[DoinTime]

The Airtran guys already learned the hard way about in-house unions and the Teamsters are worthless so what else does that leave?

 

[SEVEN]

The Airtran guys already learned the hard way about in-house unions and the Teamsters are worthless so what else does that leave?

ALPA is not the way to go. In house unions are always better only if it is run correctly. We all need to take a better look at SWA.

 

[DoinTime]

ALPA is not the way to go. In house unions are always better only if it is run correctly. We all need to take a better look at SWA.

SWA's in house union is not responsible for the working environment their pilots enjoy. SWA management is. How would you explain the train wreck that currently governs the pilots at Airtran (the NPA)? There must be a reason why 87% of their pilots don't want an in-house union anymore.

 

[stall022]

ALPA is not the way to go. In house unions are always better only if it is run correctly. We all need to take a better look at SWA.

There is only one problem with that thought. It's called airline MANAGEMENT. Unions do not run airlines, airline management runs airlines. They can either work with employee's and put employee's first(i.e...swa) or rule by intimidation (i.e...every other airline out there)

When you have a rule by intimidation / divide and conquer management style a swa union will not work.

 

[DoinTime]

When you have a rule by intimidation / divide and conquer management style a swa union will not work.

The Southwest Pilots Association would get the sh*t kicked out of them by a NWA style management group.

 

[Speedtape]

There is an old saying, "The only Companies that get Unions, are the ones that deserve Unions!"

 

[XJohXJ]

ALPA is not the way to go. In house unions are always better only if it is run correctly. We all need to take a better look at SWA.

So, what's your specific beef with ALPA?

 

[pilotyip]

Does this everyone gets a pay raise and more days off?

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Does this everyone gets a pay raise and more days off?

I can see why you preach against an education.

 

[PCL_128]

ALPA is not the way to go. In house unions are always better only if it is run correctly. We all need to take a better look at SWA.

Clueless.

 

[Midge]

Does this everyone gets a pay raise and more days off?

So, do you walk to work or do you take your lunch?

 

[nwaredtail]

At least now they can get a nice magazine with pictures of overweight guys with mustaches at meetings.

 

[Metro752]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_community

 

[SEVEN]

The Southwest Pilots Association would get the sh*t kicked out of them by a NWA style management group.

I agree. Swa management doesn't hate its pilot group like NW managment. My point being that, just because Airtran now is ALPA doesn't mean it's clear skies ahead. ALPA national has never protected it's pilots from other ALPA carriers. We fight till the bloody end. Airtran's new fight is around the corner with DAL. Every paid off NW DC9 will be placed stratigically on the Airtran routes. The goal is to slowly bleed them out.

 

[SEVEN]

Clueless.

I'm clueless? You need to look at both the negative and positive aspects of having ALPA around. I think we can do much better but unfortunately have to put up with the "union crap" at the 121 airlines. There are those that are clear thinking individuals and other who I like to call "Union Nazis." They take it way too far. They have divided this industry and management almost beyond repair. That's what I call clueless. Unions do more harm then good.

 

[easydoesit]

Hey Seven. Is your first name Alex?

 

[PCL_128]

Airtran's new fight is around the corner with DAL. Every paid off NW DC9 will be placed stratigically on the Airtran routes. The goal is to slowly bleed them out.

Companies compete, pilot groups don't. Delta has been competing with AirTran for 16 years. That has nothing to do with ALPA. We'll be working with the DAL MEC from here on out, and our managements can worry about competing with each other.

 

[PCL_128]

I'm clueless? You need to look at both the negative and positive aspects of having ALPA around. I think we can do much better but unfortunately have to put up with the "union crap" at the 121 airlines. There are those that are clear thinking individuals and other who I like to call "Union Nazis." They take it way too far. They have divided this industry and management almost beyond repair. That's what I call clueless. Unions do more harm then good.

You're even more clueless than I originally thought.