AirTran NPA Board Approves ALPA Merger Agreement

[Eagle757shark]

Thursday, February 19th, your NPA Board of Directors unanimously approved the merger agreement reached with ALPA. The procedure is such that the agreement will now be sent to you for review and ratification.
Voting will commence March 11th and end April 10th with the results announced later that day.
We are currently preparing the informational documents you will need in order to make an informed decision for your future. Look for these documents at future road shows, on the NPA website and also at upcoming Domicile Meetings.
The unanimous vote by your BoD sends a strong signal of unity and resolve as we continue to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead.
In Service,
Your NPA BoD and ALPA Merger Committee

 

[AA717driver]

AirTran pilots must be dumber than they look...

Congrats, ALPA, another revenue stream.

TC

 

[Eagle757shark]

AirTran pilots must be dumber than they look...

Congrats, ALPA, another revenue stream.

TC

Sorry you feel that way. Please don't make it personal!

 

[Capt.LongThrust]

You can thank the best airline management in the business for this.

" You called down the thunder, well now you got it."

 

[FDJ2]

ALPA and the National Pilots Association (NPA), the independent collective bargaining representative of approximately 1,700 AirTran pilots, successfully concluded negotiations for a merger agreement this week. The NPA Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve the agreement on Thursday, February 19, 2009.

The merger agreement will next be submitted to AirTran pilots for member ratification in a vote scheduled to start on March 11 and conclude on April 10. ALPA governing bodies will also make final decisions concerning ratification in April at regularly scheduled meetings. The merger agreement will be effective on May 1, 2009, if approved by both sides.

“Our joint work with AirTran pilots is the successful conclusion to weeks of hard work by the two unions’ merger committees but only the start of a relationship that will bear more fruit.” said ALPA President Capt. John Prater. “It demonstrates the work that can be accomplished when pilots cooperate to achieve common objectives.

“The merger of NPA and ALPA, and representation of AirTran pilots by ALPA, will help AirTran pilots achieve their bargaining and contract enforcement goals and will further ALPA’s goal of coordinating more closely and establishing favorable contract patterns across pilot group lines. Fellow pilots in Atlanta and elsewhere are enthusiastically looking forward to working closely with AirTran pilots.”

Prater added, “The NPA merger committee and Board of Directors have my great respect and admiration for the leadership position they have assumed on behalf of their pilot group.”

ALPA Fast Read

 

[birdman1]

AirTran pilots must be dumber than they look...

Congrats, ALPA, another revenue stream.

TC

[FONT=&quot]Let’s set a date, time and place. I dare you to say that in my face.[/FONT]

 

[Fubijaakr]

Congratulations, Air Tran pilots. Welcome to the #1 Union for Pilots in America.

 

[TV9Driver]

I think I just threw up a little bit in my mouth...

 

[400ADude]

AirTran pilots must be dumber than they look...

Congrats, ALPA, another revenue stream.

TC

That says something

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

AirTran pilots must be dumber than they look...

Congrats, ALPA, another revenue stream.

TC

I think I just threw up a little bit in my mouth...

Would you feel better if FL pilots rejected ALPA for you?

 

[jball2]

Hopefully things will start moving now. I hope you get a contract worth your long while! Thanks for the rides!

 

[PCL_128]

Congratulations, Air Tran pilots. Welcome to the #1 Union for Pilots in America.

Well, it's not quite done yet. Almost! The pilots still have to vote on it next month. This was just approval and endorsement by the NPA BOD.

 

[eaglesview]

Congratulations, Air Tran pilots. Welcome to the #1 Union for Pilots in America.

No they want ALPA, hardly number 1

 

[zman]

I like ALPA's stickers better compared to the NPA stickers thats why I am going to vote ALPA.

 

[AA717driver]

[FONT=&quot]Let’s set a date, time and place. I dare you to say that in my face.[/FONT]

I don't have a problem saying that to anyone's face.

Look at the history. Small carriers have always played second fiddle at ALPA.

How's that contract at Comair working out? Eagle? (Eagle757shark: now that your guys have been stranded by the flowback and forced to leave against their will because of the flowthrough how's that 18 year contract looking?), Midwest? We can even go all the way back to Frontier 1.

Even the Legacies didn't get their money's worth with ALPA standing idly by as the 1113 contracts got shoved up everyone's butts? I'll even go 'old school' on you and bring up security screening and drug testing--thanks Hank!

ALPA people love to beat their chests about how great it is to belong to such a big, powerful union but when things go wrong the story shifts to "a union is only as strong as its members".

But, this is a democracy and I'll allow myself to be shouted down. But I'll be back in a few years to see how things are going.

Enjoy the ride!

TC

P.S.--I've got friends at AirTran and they've always been great when I've flown on them. I just hate to see them get sucked in by the siren song of ALPA.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

P.S.--I've got friends at AirTran and they've always been great when I've flown on them. I just hate to see them get sucked in by the siren song of ALPA.

What does it it really matter to you?

 

[scarlet]

Good ALPA can take our information right across the street to the big D ! =Smart !

Let see you they are going to work for

15000 pilots or 1700... Heck ASA has had ALPA for years and now the DL ALPA is voting to put DL pilots in DCI carriers if they are furloughed. ASA/Comair/DCI ALPA Pilots are just excited about that.

GREAT RESOURCES ALPA!! I had your great resources as many pilots here at Airtran have, and you showed us nothing !

No THANKS, lets keep the family to family like AA,SWA.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Good ALPA can take our information right across the street to the big D ! =Smart !

Let see you they are going to work for

15000 pilots or 1700... Heck ASA has had ALPA for years and now the DL ALPA is voting to put DL pilots in DCI carriers if they are furloughed. ASA/Comair/DCI ALPA Pilots are just excited about that.

GREAT RESOURCES ALPA!! I had your great resources as many pilots here at Airtran have, and you showed us nothing !

No THANKS, lets keep the family to family like AA,SWA.

Another flawed arguement designed to distract and muddy the issue.....


If the APA and SWAPA are so great then why not ask them to represent you?

 

[Eagle757shark]

Look at the history. Small carriers have always played second fiddle at ALPA.

How's that contract at Comair working out? Eagle? (Eagle757shark: now that your guys have been stranded by the flowback and forced to leave against their will because of the flowthrough how's that 18 year contract looking?), Midwest? We can even go all the way back to Frontier 1.

Ok, what the hell are you talking about in your rant? I never said anything like this. (Never worked at Comair) With the TWA picture and AA in your profile I take it you hate ALPA because of the AA/TWA outcome. Now let me remind you: it was TWA management that took TWA into bankruptcy, it was TWA management that sold TWA to American. It was Carl Icahn who was destroying TWA with his Ticket deal. NONE of these things were the fault of ALPA. I can't help what happened in your senority integration with American. Most pilots on here would agree that ALPA is not perfect. I have been a member of ALPA at a previous major airline where I was furloughed. (Which by the way was the fault of managment, not ALPA) The NPA which is our current independent union, has not worked. First, the pilots at AirTran are paying around 2.2% in dues which will go down to about 1.9% with ALPA. We are paying more and getting less. What kind of damn sense does that make? Many of us see the value in the resources that ALPA has for a carrier of our size. No matter what, changing to ALPA is still going to require the AirTran pilots to make their union as good or as bad as it will be with participation.

I will say it again, we will blame the union when times are bad and disregard the union when times are good. No union makes a decision on routes, fleets, fuel hedges, or bankruptcies. Piss poor management does and your anger is aimed at the wrong culprit.

 

[Eagle757shark]

Good ALPA can take our information right across the street to the big D ! =Smart !

Let see you they are going to work for

15000 pilots or 1700... Heck ASA has had ALPA for years and now the DL ALPA is voting to put DL pilots in DCI carriers if they are furloughed. ASA/Comair/DCI ALPA Pilots are just excited about that.

GREAT RESOURCES ALPA!! I had your great resources as many pilots here at Airtran have, and you showed us nothing !

No THANKS, lets keep the family to family like AA,SWA.

Scarlet you are so misinformed it is not even worth it to try anymore. You again are mixing Apples and Oranges in your argument and they don't mix. What Delta management and AirTran management want for each other has nothing to do with ALPA or any union for that matter. I will say every pilot in Atlanta wants a fair contract with good compensation and good work rules. I will say with confidence the pilots at Delta that fly similar aircraft to AirTran on the same routes want to see AirTran pilots come close to their compensation. Go to Airlinepilotcentral and compare the rates.

Again by your comments, you didn't even take the time to go to a road show and talk with pilots from the various unions that were there (Alaska, FedEx, Delta) just to name a few. Rather you vote for it or against it, atleast take the time to do your due diligence. All of these questions you pose were answered at the road shows.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

I will say it again, we will blame the union when times are bad and disregard the union when times are good. No union makes a decision on routes, fleets, fuel hedges, or bankruptcies. Piss poor management does and your anger is aimed at the wrong culprit.

It is a typical consumer attitude pilots have with thier union

 

[scarlet]

Thanks had almost 7 years with ALPA=I know what they tell you! They tell you how they are soing to strong arm management. Just as they have done with all the airlines I listed earlier. You have to look at the past to educate yourself for the future. ALPA's past is not impressive to me or the folks I talk to.

No to ALPA !!

 

[AA717driver]

Eagle757--I thought you were at Eagle. But I was pointing out how the small carriers get the short end of the stick when it comes to ALPA National.

Hey, enjoy the ride. Save a few bucks on representation. As for not liking ALPA, the integration was just the icing on the cake. I put in 13 years of ALPA membership before that including one at ARW after the MVA merger. But that's ancient history. I'm sure things have changed.

But I'd watch my back if they assign Roland Wilder to AirTran. Be careful what you wish for. In other words, even if the AT MEC is paying his fee, he still works for and takes orders from ALPA National.

Rez: What does it matter to me? Because I'm not a union political hack and I actually care what happens to my friend's careers.

TC

 

[RIDETHELIGHTING]

get over it, ALPA is getting voted in.

 

[easydoesit]

GO ALPA! Quit pissin and moaning. It's over for the flickin NPA

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Rez: What does it matter to me? Because I'm not a union political hack and I actually care what happens to my friend's careers.

TC

So what are you doing about it besides posting on FI?

And if this is all you are doing, why not come up with solid arguments instead of slick insults?

ALPA is not perfect... it has its faults just like any organization comprised of humans...

So, if you are genuine about ALPA being a poor choice for Airtran...

Then show us that you understand the NPA is not working and some alternative is attractive. Since no other in house or IBT is interested and ALPA is the only choice...

Tell us, why the NPA, is still better than ALPA.

Finally, tell us, since ALPA has a good chance, what you like and dislike about ALPA..... in other words, what can the FL pilots learn from your bad experiences with ALPA....

If you really care about your friends careers and ALPA is most likely going to happen, then help your friends not make the same mistakes.

 

[gearup5]

Good ALPA can take our information right across the street to the big D ! =Smart !

Let see you they are going to work for

15000 pilots or 1700... Heck ASA has had ALPA for years and now the DL ALPA is voting to put DL pilots in DCI carriers if they are furloughed. ASA/Comair/DCI ALPA Pilots are just excited about that.

GREAT RESOURCES ALPA!! I had your great resources as many pilots here at Airtran have, and you showed us nothing !

No THANKS, lets keep the family to family like AA,SWA.

So by that logic we should get rid of FLICA,Signature,CrewTRAC(sabre),Gate gourmet,XM,COKE products.
Keep it in the family? Where have you been for the last four years. Npa couldn't fight its way out of a wet paper bag. At a minimum you at least get a dues reduction.

 

[funnyman12]

I think if the ALPA haters had first hand witness to the NPA's ineffectiveness they may have a better understanding. I've been at Airtran for 2 years and my quality of life has significantly decreased under the same contract. I don't think that Airtran pilots think ALPA is going to save us, it is just that we need resources!! Currently we don't have an active lawyer. She is out on medical. A union without a lawyer!!?? Unions were put in place to protect the worker. Yeah contracts are great but in the end of the day, I wanna know that I am personally protected. If I were involved in an incident I dont feel very secure that the NPA could protect me. That could ruin my entire career. ALPA has better resources to protect ME. You are right tho, in the end of the day ALPA is a money hungry entity and if push came to shove may screw us. But at least I have more protection from management and if I ever am involved in an incident.

 

[Fubijaakr]

All you haters need to ask a Colgan pilot if he thinks ALPA is worth the money today. Wait, they haven't paid any dues yet, but ALPA responded to their accident full force.

You guys don't get it, do you?

 

[AA717driver]

Finally, tell us, since ALPA has a good chance, what you like and dislike about ALPA..... in other words, what can the FL pilots learn from your bad experiences with ALPA....

If you really care about your friends careers and ALPA is most likely going to happen, then help your friends not make the same mistakes.

Rez--My statement about ALPA legal is a biggie. Just remember that when AT is in play and ALPA sends its vaunted legal team they work for ALPA National and are not under the command of the MEC.

NPA didn't get a contract for their members. What will ALPA do within the constraints of the RLA to motivate AT management? What force will they bring to bear to wring a new CBA out of AirTran?

Who will represent the AT pilots at the local level? I'm guessing it will be the same people who worked for NPA.

When push comes to shove at Bal Harbor, the big boys get their way. Some are more equal than others.

As long as they know their place, they won't be disappointed.

I'm not going to bother with the inside baseball stuff. They'll learn on their own.

TC