Drop ALPA join Teamsters

[BE90CPT]

I have heard several pilots that fly for airlines that have ALPA representation voice their opinion to start their own union. I believe their is an easier solution. Join the Teamsters Union. They already represent Chautauqua Airlines so they are already aware of the issues faced by commuter airlines.

I think that seperation from ALPA by regional airline pilots is a must. It has become impossible for ALPA to represent both the Major airlines and Regional airlines effectively. They cannot responsibly look out for the best interest of all pilots in the current climate within the airline community.

A time has come for change.

What would you be willing to do:

1. Drop ALPA and join the TEAMSTERS
2. Drop ALPA and form own union
3. Keep ALPA
4. Don't care which union

 

[Palerider957]

The Teamsters have been indicted and investigated sooooo many times, I can't see a professional pilot organization benefitting from associating with these types.

ALPA may be inept, or even hostile, but they are not aligned with known criminals.

No thanks.

 

[BE90CPT]

Are you kidding me? Great Lakes is also represented by the TEAMSTERS. THEY SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe they do, maybe they don't, but they still have to be better than ALPA right?

What was the last thing ALPA did that helped the Regionals? J4J's ??? lol what a joke

 

[Homer Jay]

I could write a book on why not to choose the Teamsters. You know what happens when we file grievances? NOTHING! Over September 11th, Great Lakes reduced our guarantee because they said we we're "temporarily" furloughed. Well, how could I be furloughed if I'm sitting in a hotel room for almost a week waiting to get the plane back. You would think that would be an easy grievance to resolve. You know what happened? NOTHING!! I do feel that we need a regional pilot's union, but trust me, the teamsters are NOT the answer! If you want more examples of the Teamster's ineptitude, I've got plenty more!

 

[AceCrackshot]

A Regional Pilots union is about the only hope we have of someday having:
1) An (regional) industry-wide seniority list.
2) An across the board pattern contract that is safe, livable, and standard.
3) The ability to sleep at night knowing your contract isn't about to be whipsawed.
4) Someone coming in at the last moment to take your job. (J4J)

The only problems are

A) As long as one large regional is outside the tent, a level of jeopardy remains.
B) Some people will do anything to be regional airline pilots
C) Management will do anything to stop it.

Just my two cents

Ace

 

[rightrudder]

i have worked for carriers represented by both. Teamsters are inept at representing airlines. ALPA does a much, much better job, but as many others have said, they do have a big conflict of interest trying to represent major and regional carriers.

Maybe the answer is a new union dedicated to representing regional and national carriers.

 

[sleepy]

I was a Teamster at another airline, and would never go back to that union. For all of the problems we have at ALPA, it is still the best thing going for pilots.

 

[BoredToDeath]

Listen guys,

If you want to work at a regional for the rest of your career then by all means form a separate union. But if your like most of us and have hopes of flying for a major then do what really needs to be done.

Change ALPA from the inside. Belive me there are enough people to do it. All it takes is one good plan and a few sacrifices.

In order to preserve the major jobs that we want the change has to happen from the INSIDE. Those major jobs are going away guicker than I can type and when they do come back the pay just isn't gonna be there, which is why action is needed now. Action from the inside.

 

[sleepy]

At the present rate of growth in regional and national airlines, and the shrinking of the former major carriers, ALPA will soon be controled by the regional and national airline pilots. Why leave ALPA to form a regional airline, when ALPA will soon be a regional airline controled union.

 

[MetroSheriff]

You must be joking...

Be90,

You are kidding, right?

 

[Captain X]

Let's see.....pay dues and have nothing done for me, or pay dues and at least get something in return......um....ALPA

 

[Cardinal]

From my brief exposure to the Teamsters, it would appear that we get the benefit of collective bargaining, and thats it. Period. Financial analysis, medical resources, a good means of communicating lessons learned ("Air Line Piot") are not there. The company took a hostage, and we haven't seen him since. Perhaps it's all we deserve, as the pilot group is united but not all that driven. I was raised in an ALPA family, and I'd go back had I the choice.

 

[DrunkIrishman]

Let me reiterate Homer Jay's earlier comment, TEAMSTERS SUCK!!!

Having left them and joined ALPA with my present employer, things are much improved. Yes, ALPA has problems, but I would never ever ever ever want to go back to Teamsters.

 

[FamilyMan]

Slight change in the conversation, go with n internal union (SW, AirTran). They seem to achieve the proper balance, and only represent the pilots. Dues don’t line the pockets of the DCN or someone’s personal retirement fund. Pilot due should benefit pilots, not politicians.

Internal union airlines seem to be growing:
AirTran
Southwest
Jet Blue (not ALPA, I don’t know if they have an internal union)

ALPA airlines seem to be dieing.

Family Man

 

[hellas]

Teamsters are the absolute worst union for pilots, dont even consider the option, unless you wnat ot pay 60.00 per month for the truckers magazine, CHQ voted down J4J the first time and instead of ALPA and Teamster support to set a trend for a new regional standard ALPA ran away and hid because in the end its all about DUES. Union impotence and government deregulation as well as true greed in managment and couple that with obscenly leveraged companies ( throw in 9/11) have left the industy in utter devestation. I was just up at flight options and they have 10000 resumes on file and I just talked to a guy in JET BLUE and they have approx. 11000 resumes on file. Unions are absolutely worthless. You knwo what they say "The best thing about a union is having the teamsters and the worst thing about having a union is having the teamsters" The only company that did it correctly was Comair, Kudos to those guys...

 

[Corbon]

Not to mention you unwillingly support the DemocRATic party. Thanks Teamsters.

 

[100LL... Again!]

I think we should take a serious look at AFA. Combining the bargaining power of the FA's could be just the trick. The hard part would be negotiating the flow-back agreement.