Comair Firing

[merlindrvr88]

My friend at Comair just got a 15 day notice to pay a "merger assessment fee" or the union would strongly pursue his termination. There is no merger, and the other ALPA carriers discussed in the merger are not being charged a fee. Why just Comair? This sounds crooked. What a union, I have a friend At Mesaba and they are not being charged a fee, but they are mentioned in the negotiations. ALPO, garbage on garbage. I think they will have a major lawsuit on their hands.

 

[DoinTime]

You should be expressing your lack of willingness to pay this assessment to your status rep. The voting members of your MEC (status reps) are the only ones who can change this. If you can't change their mind then gather up some support and present a motion to recall them at your next LEC meeting. Thats how democracy works.

 

[WayBack]

You should be expressing your lack of willingness to pay this assessment to your status rep. The voting members of your MEC (status reps) are the only ones who can change this. If you can't change their mind then gather up some support and present a motion to recall them at your next LEC meeting. Thats how democracy works.

Word on the street is that there are no more reps at Comair ALPA. They've all been asked to step down because they're a bunch of worthless sacks, who do nothing but make up fake mergers.
Boo Hoo Hoo! We made up some bogus assesment fee, and the guys aren't biting on it. We're going to threaten to have them fired if they don't!

ALPA is a bunch of pansies.

 

[CopilotDoug]

You should be expressing your lack of willingness to pay this assessment to your status rep. The voting members of your MEC (status reps) are the only ones who can change this. If you can't change their mind then gather up some support and present a motion to recall them at your next LEC meeting. Thats how democracy works.

First things first: Did the Comair Pilots vote for the implementation of a Merger Assesment Fee?

I've heard about this thing for some time now, and my friend at Pinnacle has confirmed they aren't being assessed for a Merger Fee.

Something doesn't sound right...

 

[CopilotDoug]

We're going to threaten to have them fired if they don't!

Sounds like they want Membership Submission rather than Membership Participation.

Don't ask questions...just cut us a check and get the hell outta here.

 

[say again]

How much is this fee?

 

[WayBack]

Sounds like they want Membership Submission rather than Membership Participation.

Don't ask questions...just cut us a check and get the hell outta here.

No wonder can't get other airlines, other than Colgan, on board with them.

They're just upset that USAir voted them off, and they couldn't pound thier chest and take full credit for Capt. Sulley's fine display of airmanship.

 

[DX Rick]

How much is this fee?

$20/mo
I got one of those letters today...actually two of them. One of them was sent certified mail for $9.62. The same exact letter also came in the same batch of mail, with regular postage on it, $.42.

Receiving two same exact letters on the same day. One costing $10 and the othe cost less than $1. This is inexcusable. Maybe ALPA needs to boost up the quality control in the mail room. Maybe we should appoint someone...wait, ALPA is full of democrats, so we will need to appoint 5-6 people to do this job. Does $90k a year sound like a good starting "volunteering fee" for these guys?

 

[CopilotDoug]

$20/mo
I got one of those letters today...actually two of them. One of them was sent certified mail for $9.62. The same exact letter also came in the same batch of mail, with regular postage on it, $.42.

Receiving two same exact letters on the same day. One costing $10 and the othe cost less than $1. This is inexcusable. Maybe ALPA needs to boost up the quality control in the mail room. Maybe we should appoint someone...wait, ALPA is full of democrats, so we will need to appoint 5-6 people to do this job. Does $90k a year sound like a good starting "volunteering fee" for these guys?

Was it the MEC, or the Pilots who suggested this Merger Assesment Fee?

 

[TristarJS30]

The MEC not only suggested it, they imposed it with a huge LACK of support from its members. The members did not vote, but were rather told we would be paying $20 per month until it was "obvious no merger would take place" and then, we would "receive our money back."

This, at the same time, we were told that the money they collect at $20/month would not cover even the legal fees of a merger, but payment is still required anyway.

Oh, and our MEC can't come up with a way to have it payroll deducted like everything else, and we have to spend 40 cents of our own money to cut them a check every month and mail it in.

Our MEC has been placing pilots who have not paid the "merger assessment" in "BAD STANDING" within the union. These are guys that have faithfully paid dues for years, all of a sudden labeled "bad members."

Recently there was a meeting to recall all members of our MEC, however since I'm a January 19th furlough, I have no idea the outcome of that meeting.

Some "Union", huh?

 

[DX Rick]

The MEC not only suggested it, they imposed it with a huge LACK of support from its members. The members did not vote, but were rather told we would be paying $20 per month until it was "obvious no merger would take place" and then, we would "receive our money back."

The Union said that even if there isn't a merger, that the pilot would get the money back...well, what ever is left over. They're going to use the money to pay lawyer to "view thier options if thier is a merger".
They sent out a letter a couple of weeks ago saying that they're looking over a couple of law firms to see who they want to represent us if there is a merger. The next day we got an email saying that they have selected a firm.
Now tell me this. How hard did they really look for a firm, if it only took them less than 24 hours?
So the union is supposidly paying some law firm, to review our options, for a merger that will never take place. And the pilots will get back what ever is left over.
Rumors have it that the Union is going to up the fee to cover for the guys who haven't been paying it.

 

[DoinTime]

Some "Union", huh?

The quality of any Union is measured by the quality of the local members.

 

[Speedtape]

With a money back guarantee, why would you not want to be ready to protect your job and seniority should there be a merger? Would you be the same pilot that would be whining when the merger happens and you don't have adequate protection because you did not have a fund setup to pay legal fees to protect your job? Pay the money--it's cheap insurance!

 

[N1VIBS]

Does Comair have any type of merger protection or procedures in their contract? OK, I'll admit that these days, it seems most contracts aren't worth the paper they are written on. Good luck to Comair pilots if there is a merger (or even if there isn't).

 

[TristarJS30]

Speedtape, the only money back guarantee is a tiny mention in some email that was along the lines of "we understand your worries, so don't worry you'll get your money back once we are sure there is no merger..." When might that be? That could be the year 2150 when they decide Delta won't merge Comair with anyone...

If you think I'll ever see my money back from ALPA, I have a bridge to sell you.

 

[PCL_128]

Did you guys vote to approve this assessment?

I saw in the latest FastRead that the MEC Chairman has been replaced with a new guy. Was that related to this situation?

 

[JECKEL]

From earlier in the thread ...

The MEC not only suggested it, they imposed it with a huge LACK of support from its members. The members did not vote, but were rather told we would be paying $20 per month until it was "obvious no merger would take place" and then, we would "receive our money back."

This, at the same time, we were told that the money they collect at $20/month would not cover even the legal fees of a merger, but payment is still required anyway.

Oh, and our MEC can't come up with a way to have it payroll deducted like everything else, and we have to spend 40 cents of our own money to cut them a check every month and mail it in.

Our MEC has been placing pilots who have not paid the "merger assessment" in "BAD STANDING" within the union. These are guys that have faithfully paid dues for years, all of a sudden labeled "bad members."

Recently there was a meeting to recall all members of our MEC, however since I'm a January 19th furlough, I have no idea the outcome of that meeting.

Some "Union", huh?

 

[TristarJS30]

No vote, we were just told "You pay now please."

This was a big part in the new MEC Chair, but certainly not the only one. Lack of communication to the members and childish antics such as a weekly "Management Knucklehead Award" were just some of the other reasons.

 

[DX Rick]

No vote, we were just told "You pay now please."

Quit lying dude, they never said "Please" haha
The first couple of emails were very iffy. Made no sense and gave us no eplanation as to why the Union thinks were merging.
Then there were a few emails "strong arming" pilots to pay the fee.....the act of desperation.
Then they came out and apologized and now they're threatening jobs again.

 

[PCL_128]

Dang, I can't believe they actually imposed an assessment without a vote. That takes some balls. You guys need to pressure your new MEC Chair to get a change to the MEC policy manual to require membership ratification of assessments.

 

[WayBack]

Did you guys vote to approve this assessment?

I saw in the latest FastRead that the MEC Chairman has been replaced with a new guy. Was that related to this situation?

You read at a 1st grade level? Your reading and comprehension must suck if you didnt see the answer to your question on the first page. There are only 2-3 post about it.
Maybe you can get some money back from GIA and go buy Hooked on Phonics.

 

[Flyer1015]

Come on, give 'em a break! They lost huge income from US Airways, and now need to do everything they can to bring in new $$$$$. How else are the head honchos suppose to buy a new Mercedes Benz S Class every two years?!

 

[Browntothebone]

Your union is doing the same to you as your airline is doing to us paying passengers, assigning arbitrary BS fees.

 

[CopilotDoug]

With a money back guarantee, why would you not want to be ready to protect your job and seniority should there be a merger? Would you be the same pilot that would be whining when the merger happens and you don't have adequate protection because you did not have a fund setup to pay legal fees to protect your job? Pay the money--it's cheap insurance!

I'll take it that you're being sarcastic.

"Money Back Guarantee"? TriStar pointed out the vagueness of that statement "When it's obvious there will be no merger?" No deadlines or anything.

Just like cheap insurance, the pilots who have paid may never be able to collect on their claim.

 

[PCL_128]

Come on, give 'em a break! They lost huge income from US Airways, and now need to do everything they can to bring in new $$$$$. How else are the head honchos suppose to buy a new Mercedes Benz S Class every two years?!

Merger assessments don't go to National. They stay in a local account at the MEC level that can only be used for merger issues.

 

[PA44Jockey]

It's kind of interesting how the airlines have yet to blame the bad economy for their current situations. Being that the airlines were hurting far ahead of most of businesses and industries I think they will be one of the last industries to recover from all of this. Each time you see a company on the news get rid of jobs, there are that many people that can't afford to buy a plane ticket. There is also that many fewer business travelers in the system. I think anyone that believes there might be recalls soon is living a pipe dream and in reality I think we will only see more cuts.

 

[Salukipilot4590]

Thats umm....bogus!

 

[DX Rick]

Merger assessments don't go to National. They stay in a local account at the MEC level that can only be used for merger issues.

BS. The letter I got was from National.

 

[comrcap]

The money stays local, but enforcement of ALPA bylaws are national.

 

[rumrunnr03]

Assessment

Dang, I can't believe they actually imposed an assessment without a vote. That takes some balls. You guys need to pressure your new MEC Chair to get a change to the MEC policy manual to require membership ratification of assessments.

No need to change anything. Article IX Section 7c of the CB&L Says it all:

C. Assessments may be levied on the members in the employ of any airline by the respective
Master Executive Council to cover extraordinary expenses for any strike or other benefit purposes,
and for any other lawful trade union purpose, by a majority vote by secret ballot of the members of
such Master Executive Council, or by a majority vote of the valid ballots returned of the membership
of such airline voting in a membership referendum conducted by secret ballot under Association
Voting Procedures.

They had a choice, and they chose not to put it to a vote because they were afraid the pilots would shoot it down with the lack of information they were, and still are presenting.