In house negotiating committee at Colgan

[I ROCK]

All right already. Enough talk about ALPA. Let's see what happens with the vote. Does anyone know when the deadline for filling out the cards is? When will they make a decision if this thing goes to another vote?

 

[PCL_128]

All right already. Enough talk about ALPA. Let's see what happens with the vote. Does anyone know when the deadline for filling out the cards is? When will they make a decision if this thing goes to another vote?

There is no deadline. When enough cards come in, the petition will be filed with the NMB. After that, it takes about 30-60 days for the NMB to hold the election. So, if you want this over with, send in your card and encourage everyone you know to send in their cards.

 

[Dr King]

Just ask the pilots at Republic. I'm sure they'll be happy to tell you just how little they think of the Teamsters.

Just ask Comai, Mesa, MEsaba, Continental( I can keep going) how they like ALPA

 

[GEORGE DUBYA]

www.colganpilotgroup.com
www.unionfacts.com

 

[YMICFI]

Alpa

www.alpa.org/colgan

1-877- GOT ALPA

 

[PCL_128]

Just ask Comai, Mesa, MEsaba, Continental( I can keep going) how they like ALPA

I think you'll find that the vast majority of the pilots at the above mentioned airlines are supportive of ALPA. You'll find a few angry malcontents at any airline, but most of the pilots at ALPA carriers are supportive. I spent a day in LGA last week for a Colgan event and talked with every single Republic pilot that came through the food court. Every single one of them complained about the Teamsters, specifically in reference to the latest issue with seniority rights. Pilots need a pilots' union to represent them; not a truckers' union.

 

[YMICFI]

Alpa Now

We need a truly professional pilot's union...ALPA. Look at the facts, ask questions. Through that process you will see that we need ALPA now.

 

[DrewBlows]

Just ask Comai, Mesa, MEsaba, Continental( I can keep going) how they like ALPA

Glad you asked. I work for Comair.

Delta dragged Comair into bankruptcy and used the legal system to drive down labor costs (wages to you and I). Despite a legal system that is badly slanted against labor, our MEC managed to keep full pay for nearly a year and a half, and when we did take a pay cut it turned out to be about half of what the company wanted. In addition, we will all get a bankruptcy claim payout that should add up to more than we lost over the course of the new contract. If we should decide to leave, we keep the money. During that time ALPA gave the Comair MEC a $1 million grant for Family Awareness events and to open the Strike Preparedness Center.

Without ALPA we would have taken what the company gave us, which wasn't much.

Don't get me wrong, given the choice I would rather have not been put through the bankruptcy process, and our MEC made some mistakes (most notably sending the company's first proposal to a vote), but overall they did a pretty good job. I still didn't vote for the pay cut, but without ALPA it would have been a lot worse.

 

[Prop2Jet]

Here is some reality for everyone! MESA and the other examples have been used to dispel the union. People say "I talked too so and so and they hate it" or "They have not done anything for us" blah blah blah.

Did anyone ever stop to think that these guys came into an airline with ALPA already running the show. They have 0 clue about what life would be like without a union let alone ALPA.

I don't think we can use these cases as everyone always sees the greener side of things or worse, the dark side of the union. But without it then see how much they would like it.

You can't compare these groups to us. We are in a world of Sh*t so to speak --at brief times-- and anything would be better.

Think about it.

 

[Prop2Jet]

Get the kid out of the lav....... Umm I know rock the airplane? If on the ground pump it full of bluejuice.
O wait use your pen open the lock and expose his meat jerking butt to the rest of the cabin!

 

[Mr Wu]

Get the kid out of the lav....... Umm I know rock the airplane? If on the ground pump it full of bluejuice.
O wait use your pen open the lock and expose his meat jerking butt to the rest of the cabin!

So, you're saying that you wouldn't give the controls to the F/O, grab the crash axe, and go back and beat down the door?

 

[GEORGE DUBYA]

all you need is a pen

 

[suupah]

www.colganpilotgroup.com
www.unionfacts.com

quite posting this garbage that has nothing to do with Colgan

 

[Mr Wu]

all you need is a pen

Your future chief pilot doesn't know that.

 

[Mr Wu]

Here is something to think about when you decide to back this council. The following was copied from the council's website. No answer was given.

Name: Uknown
Company: CL
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 703-888-8888
Question/Comment: To whom it may concern:

You have a great idea, the only problem is LEGAL and enforceable
contracts, rules etc.

First off when has scheduling ever done us a favor other than letting
us call in sick, which at times becomes a guilt trip when they ask are
you sure you can’t just do…..

The way I see it, it is not ALPA working with contracts which makes it
so alluring, but rather the legal services, medical protection, and
other pilot services which no independent council can provide.

Sure it is 2% of pay but how much is a lawyer to retain if something
happens (your fault or not).

Your ideas are good and have merit but lack the credibility to
withstand long-term negotiations and defense of a pilot group.

What leverage do you offer or have if the Colgans' refuse to change?
Go union then, as you have stated in your website? How do you plan on
changing the rules, conditions and pay without a federally backed
organization that will financially support your decisions?

The following are some important questions I feel need to be answered
by you:

How can you defend pilots from biased PC checks? What standards will
you use to verify this? What appeal processes are there?

How can you enforce duty times and "roll back" attempts by scheduling?

How can you provide uniformity to the pay structure? I.E. can you
enforce what the written company standards are if a problem arises and how
can you "lean" on the Colgan enterprise to pay?

Can you resolve the repeated problems with overnight hotels not being
reserved? More importantly can you ensure the Colgan credit card will
work so pilots don't have to pay out of pocket at 2am?

The concept of renting a car and driving to another base is obscene.

Do you plan on providing a committee elected by pilots? What if pilots
don't agree with your negotiating tactics or even less complex your
terms and settlements?

How can you provide certificate defense if need be?

I am sure the list can continue but at least it shows you how much you
need to offer for people to move away from the idea of ALPA.

A committee of ombudsman is not going to cut it. You must provide
solid documentation on how you expect to change the current and future
problems within our pilot group. Provide something other than the "don't
sign the card we can do it from within" mentality.

This is not a light topic nor should you all expect us, the foundation
of the company, to sit and hope you make the right moves for us without
proper consultation (I.E. votes and open forum.) We are not uneducated
people. We know the risks from choosing either ALPA or your good, yet
very nascent idea.

Clearly now, the only organization that has provided a semblance of
formality and structure is ALPA. Sure they have had the past 80 or so
years to formulate a template for operations, but that fact does not lend
leniency to your lack of apparent organization and correspondence. If
you are going to provide an alternative method for our pilot group, we
need to start seeing concrete and verifiable evidence of a plan, a
method, something other than rhetoric found on flight info or word-of mouth
propaganda.

I urge you to take this guidance and turn it into something concrete so
most of us can vote for the lesser of two evils. Good luck and I look
forward to seeing your future progress.

-A concerned pilot of Colgan Air.