This email is to notify you that the Flight Options Pilot’s Association has been formalized in an effort to represent the Flight Options pilot work force.
What is the Flight Options Pilot’s Association?
The majority of Flight Option Pilots agree that a third party communicator is needed between management and the pilot work force. There has to be one point of contact from the pilots to management and vice versa. The only option available for representation was the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a nation wide organization that represents 1.4 million people in different fields across different regions. Flight Option pilots are not the Teamster’s sole and primary interest, therefore, the attention required by Flight Options’ pilot work force will not be met accordingly. The pilots need results quickly with a process developed that will create fair working conditions, competitive compensation and a communication process to voice concerns to management. This will not be provided for a substantial amount of time with Teamster representation. The Teamsters will only delay any improvements in working conditions by prolonged negotiation techniques.
Therefore, a group of Flight Options Pilots have joined together to create another option for representation. This group is initially privately funded and consists of no management, solely Flight Option line pilots. This organization is called the Flight Options Pilot’s Association, also called FOPA. The founders of FOPA will remain confidential until the current IBT vote has finished being conducted in an effort to avoid repercussions from management or the Teamsters. Once the Teamsters vote fails, FOPA will announce its representatives and intentions to management. This is also the first announcement to the management team of Flight Options. The purpose of FOPA is not to create a wall between management and the pilots but instead assist in organizing self-representation and an effective communication channel between both parties.
How FOPA works?
DO NOT vote for Teamster representation. This may be achieved by NOT calling the Teamster ballot telephone number. Once the Teamster ballot has failed, the Flight Options Pilot’s Association (FOPA) will announce to management their intent to represent the pilot work force and the names of the reps and their positions will be released. FOPA reps will hold five temporary positions; one president and four pilot representatives. The representatives will then begin formalization of FOPA per the agenda and schedule discussed below. The initial plan after announcement of the FOPA representatives will be to start a card campaign by distributing cards to the pilot work force. During the distribution of cards, FOPA reps will approach management with a copy of the Formalization Handbook and ask for an official signed agreement to conduct operations within these guidelines. These guidelines will solely establish practices that will protect FOPA affiliates from termination or repercussions from management and give basic guidelines to protect the pilot work force from mergers or acquisitions as well as any deductions in current benefits or compensation. This agreement will not change any current benefits and will be void upon a voted contract by the pilot work force; these are just guidelines for formalization of the FOPA organization. Upon managements agreement Bob Tyler will be asked to release the compensation plan he had announced before the Teamsters filed with the NMB. If management will not sign the Formalization Handbook agreement, FOPA founders will continue with the card campaign and file with the NMB for an official vote and except any repercussions imposed by Flight Option’s management. Upon receiving 35% of the pilot’s cards, FOPA will file the application with the NMB for an election. If the FOPA vote receives 50% plus 1 with the NMB, FOPA will then officially represent the Flight Options pilot work force. FOPA will then initiate a nomination period where any pilot interested in representing the pilot workforce will be able to submit their name. The applicants will complete the FOPA form 107, this form will state their background and why they should represent the pilots. The applicant information will be forwarded to the pilot group for review. Upon the review deadline an election will be held within the pilot workforce narrowing the representation group to 20 pilots (five pilots per future fleet type) and 5 president applicants. Application forms will be disseminated again. The pilot work force will then vote for 4 pilots to represent the pilot work force and one president to represent FOPA and act as a liaison between FOPA and Flight Option’s management. Initially, the elected FOPA reps will represent a variety of fleet types, as the company moves on with the go foreword plan of four aircraft types the reps will stream line their representation to a specific type of aircraft. The new FOPA representatives will then meet with the FOPA founders to formalize the association and establish the pass over from the founders to the elected positions. The association will then compile a list of concerns and requests from the pilot work force. Once a list of concerns is compiled the association will schedule an orientation with management representatives. At this orientation, FOPA representatives will begin negotiations with Flight Options management on a formal contract. During negotiations, FOPA reps will take into consideration all current competitive contracts.
Part 1
What is the Flight Options Pilot’s Association?
The majority of Flight Option Pilots agree that a third party communicator is needed between management and the pilot work force. There has to be one point of contact from the pilots to management and vice versa. The only option available for representation was the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a nation wide organization that represents 1.4 million people in different fields across different regions. Flight Option pilots are not the Teamster’s sole and primary interest, therefore, the attention required by Flight Options’ pilot work force will not be met accordingly. The pilots need results quickly with a process developed that will create fair working conditions, competitive compensation and a communication process to voice concerns to management. This will not be provided for a substantial amount of time with Teamster representation. The Teamsters will only delay any improvements in working conditions by prolonged negotiation techniques.
Therefore, a group of Flight Options Pilots have joined together to create another option for representation. This group is initially privately funded and consists of no management, solely Flight Option line pilots. This organization is called the Flight Options Pilot’s Association, also called FOPA. The founders of FOPA will remain confidential until the current IBT vote has finished being conducted in an effort to avoid repercussions from management or the Teamsters. Once the Teamsters vote fails, FOPA will announce its representatives and intentions to management. This is also the first announcement to the management team of Flight Options. The purpose of FOPA is not to create a wall between management and the pilots but instead assist in organizing self-representation and an effective communication channel between both parties.
How FOPA works?
DO NOT vote for Teamster representation. This may be achieved by NOT calling the Teamster ballot telephone number. Once the Teamster ballot has failed, the Flight Options Pilot’s Association (FOPA) will announce to management their intent to represent the pilot work force and the names of the reps and their positions will be released. FOPA reps will hold five temporary positions; one president and four pilot representatives. The representatives will then begin formalization of FOPA per the agenda and schedule discussed below. The initial plan after announcement of the FOPA representatives will be to start a card campaign by distributing cards to the pilot work force. During the distribution of cards, FOPA reps will approach management with a copy of the Formalization Handbook and ask for an official signed agreement to conduct operations within these guidelines. These guidelines will solely establish practices that will protect FOPA affiliates from termination or repercussions from management and give basic guidelines to protect the pilot work force from mergers or acquisitions as well as any deductions in current benefits or compensation. This agreement will not change any current benefits and will be void upon a voted contract by the pilot work force; these are just guidelines for formalization of the FOPA organization. Upon managements agreement Bob Tyler will be asked to release the compensation plan he had announced before the Teamsters filed with the NMB. If management will not sign the Formalization Handbook agreement, FOPA founders will continue with the card campaign and file with the NMB for an official vote and except any repercussions imposed by Flight Option’s management. Upon receiving 35% of the pilot’s cards, FOPA will file the application with the NMB for an election. If the FOPA vote receives 50% plus 1 with the NMB, FOPA will then officially represent the Flight Options pilot work force. FOPA will then initiate a nomination period where any pilot interested in representing the pilot workforce will be able to submit their name. The applicants will complete the FOPA form 107, this form will state their background and why they should represent the pilots. The applicant information will be forwarded to the pilot group for review. Upon the review deadline an election will be held within the pilot workforce narrowing the representation group to 20 pilots (five pilots per future fleet type) and 5 president applicants. Application forms will be disseminated again. The pilot work force will then vote for 4 pilots to represent the pilot work force and one president to represent FOPA and act as a liaison between FOPA and Flight Option’s management. Initially, the elected FOPA reps will represent a variety of fleet types, as the company moves on with the go foreword plan of four aircraft types the reps will stream line their representation to a specific type of aircraft. The new FOPA representatives will then meet with the FOPA founders to formalize the association and establish the pass over from the founders to the elected positions. The association will then compile a list of concerns and requests from the pilot work force. Once a list of concerns is compiled the association will schedule an orientation with management representatives. At this orientation, FOPA representatives will begin negotiations with Flight Options management on a formal contract. During negotiations, FOPA reps will take into consideration all current competitive contracts.
Part 1
