Colgan ALPA Election Dates Set!

[Dubya]

Good deal, let's take care of business this time around! To anyone who reads this and works at Colgan: don't just assume that it will pass and your vote doesn't really matter- it DOES. Last year, we missed ALPA by 4 stinking votes. We needed 155 and we got 151. To come that close and miss the boat was a tough pill to swallow.

I want Colgan FO's to understand something: if push comes to shove regarding an incident/accident, etc., you don't have a contract or any protection- period. (I'm not minimizing anyone in mgmt, etc., by the way.) But this is just a fact. I think most of us have worked hard enough, making not enough, only to be at the Company's whim when a situation arises. You need an advocate that protects you, your certificate, medical, and your job.

Ahhh..the ole' ALPA fear mongering. Classic.

I want Colgan FO's to understand something....you can defend yourself in ANY situation...without ALPA.
Do you want to give your money away every paycheck? Or just when something goes awry?

2% every paycheck....or pay for a lawyer when the time comes.

W

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Ahhh..the ole' ALPA fear mongering. Classic.

I want Colgan FO's to understand something....you can defend yourself in ANY situation...without ALPA.
Do you want to give your money away every paycheck? Or just when something goes awry?

2% every paycheck....or pay for a lawyer when the time comes.

W

So are you advocating the each individual pilot put money aside each month to pay for a lawyer if/when one is needed? If so how much? 1%? 10%?

Can you provide a list a comparable labor lawyers? I am sure five days is adequate for you to post a list of three lawyers in the Manassas and Memphis area.

Even lawyers that need representation get lawyers. Why are Colgan pilots special?

 

[PCL_128]

Ahhh..the ole' ALPA fear mongering. Classic.

I want Colgan FO's to understand something....you can defend yourself in ANY situation...without ALPA.
Do you want to give your money away every paycheck? Or just when something goes awry?

2% every paycheck....or pay for a lawyer when the time comes.

W

A lawyer isn't going to get your medical back within 24 hours when you bust an EKG. A lawyer isn't going to be on call 24 hours a day for when you slide off the end of an icy runway and total an airplane. A lawyer isn't going to collectively bargain for their entire group and finally get them the work rules that they deserve. A lawyer isn't going to help them when Pinnacle management mergers the lists and the Colgan pilots need someone to represent their interests.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

As an ALPA rep I've seen guys so shopping for "labor" lawyers. When the pilot in trouble says RLA, the 'labor' lawyer starts thinking about outsourcing...

I recall one pilot who screwed himself and hired a "slick gold watch, cuff link" labor lawyer.....

Our ALPA lawyer called him to discuss how this case would effect our CBA and all pilots... the Slick Lawyer started out talking tough but by the end of the call he was just listening to our ALPA lawyer saying 'ugh huh, ugh huh' as we heard him taking notes....

Talk about getting schooled!......




Are ALPA lawyers perfect? Heck no... they can be too conservative... and sometimes they will tell a pilot to take his loses cause the pilot screwed up big time...

Just like a check ride failure... you've heard those guys... who failed rides... everything was not their fault... it was the sim, the sim partner, the examiner, the humidity... etc....

So goes the pilot that screwed up and claims the ALPA lawyer sold him out....

Yeah, you can have your "outside labor lawyers" only to pay for their luxury watches, girlfriends, cars, houses, and girlfriend apartments.......

 

[Mr Wu]

I want Colgan FO's to understand something....you can defend yourself in ANY situation...without ALPA.

A year's worth of dues for a first year Colgan FO is around $200. Call a lawyer and make an appointment, ask him how much that first appointment is going to cost you.

 

[WSurf]

A year's worth of dues for a first year Colgan FO is around $200. Call a lawyer and make an appointment, ask him how much that first appointment is going to cost you.

I think I can say one thing thats great about ALPA is the Aero Medical Support team. I have seen many people that have lost there medical and watched ALPA jump in and help get these guys back flying quick. Couple of situations to me were pretty impressive on how they responded to get peoples medicals back.

I am sure all those pilots appreciated paying there dues, probably 10x over!

 

[e=mc2]

What do you call the last guy in his medical school class?

An ALPA Doctor.

You are better off joining AOPA and using thier medical and legal insurance than you are giving ALPA 2% of your pay.

Remember all ALPA wants is your 2%, do not expect them to work for you once they have the money.

 

[siucavflight]

What do you call the last guy in his medical school class?

An ALPA Doctor.

You are better off joining AOPA and using thier medical and legal insurance than you are giving ALPA 2% of your pay.

Remember all ALPA wants is your 2%, do not expect them to work for you once they have the money.

Absolutely false, I have dealt with both ALPA and AOPA about a blood pressure issue I had, ALPA was hands down the better organization to deal with. AOPA was no help at all.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

What do you call the last guy in his medical school class?

An ALPA Doctor.

You are better off joining AOPA and using their medical and legal insurance than you are giving ALPA 2% of your pay.

Remember all ALPA wants is your 2%, do not expect them to work for you once they have the money.

ALPA "doctors" don't perform medical exams. They work to get your medical back by functioning as a rep for you with the FAA. If you need medical test or exams done they will advise. You'll see another or local doctor....


Information is good. Accurate info is better.

 

[Nevets]

ALPA provides:

Individual Benefits
1. Legal representation in front of
the FAA and NTSB.

2. Medical advice and assistance
through ALPA’s Aeromedical
Office regarding all questions
concerning your medical
certificate.

3. ALPA’s loss of license insurance
program and other membership
benefit programs.

4. Legal representation in a dispute
with your employer, including the
right to a hearing in front of a
third-party arbitrator.

5. The full support of your pilot
group when your job or career as a
professional pilot is unjustly
threatened.

6. ALPA support in emergencies and
time-critical safety and security
issues by calling ALPA’s 24/7
Worldwide Accident/Incident
Hotline.

Collective Benefits
1. An enforceable contract.

2. The right to be represented by an
organization accountable only to
the pilots of Colgan Air on all
matters relating to wages, hours of
service, benefits, job security, and
other conditions of employment.

3. The right to your own representative
in all contractual disputes
resolved through the grievance
process and the right to have your
dispute heard by an independent
panel.

4. The right to your own voice,
advocating only for the pilots of
Colgan Air, during corporate
transactions including mergers
that could affect your job security
and career opportunities.

5. The right to have your professional
pilot interests represented
in the halls of government
through effective legislative,
regulatory, and political action

Service Benefits
1. The opportunity to serve fellow
pilots by participating in both
individual pilot group and ALPA
National union governance and
decision making.

2. The opportunity to serve fellow
pilots and pursue individual interests—
from air safety and security
to contract negotiations and insurance
benefits—by participating on
one of ALPA’s numerous local and
national committees.

3. The opportunity to work with
other pilot groups through
participation in collaborative
intra-pilot work groups such as
the Fee-for-Departure Task Force.

4. The opportunity to become part of
ALPA’s 77-year history of pilots
serving pilots by participating in
activities and decisions to improve
the piloting profession.

A lawyer or AOPA will not provide all of that for the same amount of money as your effective dues.