Lynx going UTU?

[CFI]

[FONT=Verdana,Trebuchet MS,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva]Futhey reported that more than 300 pilots and flight attendants employed by Great Lakes Airlines have voted to be represented by the UTU; that more than 80 percent of some 160 pilots with Lynx Aviation have signed authorization cards seeking UTU representation; and the UTU is working to organize an even larger airline.[/FONT]

 

[Cardinal]

Those at Lakes who have worked closest with UTU reps have had a really good experience thus far. The Local is granted generous autonomy, while being well supported. They can dang sure run an organizing drive, and they've done a bangup job of helping set up the Local. We're running mostly on our own two feet now, and now able to focus on the contract, only a few months after the election. As always, the union is you. Without a strong core of motivated volunteers, it's over.

Best of luck to the L4 pilots! If the Reverend has his way, they will need a strong voice.

 

[Trogdor]

Viva la Revolucion!

 

[Nevets]

I hope they consider ALPA as well. But anyone is better than nothing, I guess.

 

[CFI]

ALPA was approached on more than one occasion. They always had an excuse about it not being the right time to organize. They had their chance and they blew it.

 

[Nevets]

ALPA was approached on more than one occasion. They always had an excuse about it not being the right time to organize. They had their chance and they blew it.

Its up to the pilots of Lynx to decide that. Not some ALPA staffer. If you put enough ALPA votes on the ballot, ALPA (their MEC) will represent the Lynx pilots and ALPA pilots will welcome and support them.

 

[psmd0311]

Nope, ALPA wasn't willing to represent us. Numerous people approached ALPA over a 8 month stretch. They didn't want anything to do with us. With that I lost the little faith I had left in ALPA.

 

[CFI]

Many people at Lynx worked at ALPA carriers before and were not very happy, however most were willing to give them a second chance. ALPA ruined that by blowing us off. There are very few people on property that have any faith in ALPA at this point.

 

[Nevets]

Nope, ALPA wasn't willing to represent us. Numerous people approached ALPA over a 8 month stretch. They didn't want anything to do with us. With that I lost the little faith I had left in ALPA.

Many people at Lynx worked at ALPA carriers before and were not very happy, however most were willing to give them a second chance. ALPA ruined that by blowing us off. There are very few people on property that have any faith in ALPA at this point.

I'm just saying that regardless of what some staffer told you, ALPA is best for you guys and nothing stops any of your pilots from voting for ALPA when the time comes. Your MEC will get all the benefits that ALPA offers regardless of whether some staffer doesn't think now is the right time. In any case, your union will only be as good as your MEC. With that being equal, you might as well take advantage of what ALPA is able to provide to your MEC.

 

[psmd0311]

You really are not getting it. ALPA didn't want us. Why would we get a union that doesn't want us? We were trying to get cards from ALPA that we could sign. One of our pilots even went to Washington and approached Prater personally to try and get an ALPA drive going. ALPA was not interested, they wouldn't give us cards to sign. We were too small and would cost too much money. You need to realize ALPA has become more of a business than a union representing all pilots. Its sad and it shouldn't be like that, but thats what has happened.

Even Teamsters made more of an effort than ALPA, at least they made an appointment to meet us (they didn't show up) but at least they made an appointment!

 

[Nevets]

You really are not getting it. ALPA didn't want us. Why would we get a union that doesn't want us? We were trying to get cards from ALPA that we could sign. One of our pilots even went to Washington and approached Prater personally to try and get an ALPA drive going. ALPA was not interested, they wouldn't give us cards to sign. We were too small and would cost too much money. You need to realize ALPA has become more of a business than a union representing all pilots. Its sad and it shouldn't be like that, but thats what has happened.

Even Teamsters made more of an effort than ALPA, at least they made an appointment to meet us (they didn't show up) but at least they made an appointment!

I do think there is a misunderstanding. You need to get cards from ALPA, UTU, or the IBT. But even if it is UTU distributing cards, when it comes time to vote, you can put ANY name on the ballot!

What people don't understand is that ALPA is a bottom up organization. The line pilots run the show when they want to run the show. If you vote ALPA in, YOU as the line pilot have the final say in what ALPA national does. ALPA national does not have a say in what MEC they will support or not.

 

[CFI]

I think everyone understands that we could still write ALPA in when it comes to a vote. The question is why would anyone want to? We were told were were to small, would cost to much to represent, and had a future that was to uncertain. How much help would national be given their general attitude towards Lynx?

I can't speak for anyone else, but I would rather go with a union that has shown they want us and has given us their support from day one.

 

[psmd0311]

Its not easy to get a union vote started especially when management is on a witch hunt to find out who is doing the organizing. Then we have to ask the pilot group to have faith in ALPA when ALPA have stated they don’t want to represent us.

I don’t want to vote in a union that sees us as a burden. Yes it starts from the bottom up, thats assuming there is support from the top.

 

[GuppyWN]

Let me get this straight.

Instead of demanding one list with your big brothers at Frontier you guys took no representation, low pay and traded growth for respect.

Now you want a union?

Yeah,
Gup

 

[HDA]

Let me get this straight.

Instead of demanding one list with your big brothers at Frontier you guys took no representation, low pay and traded growth for respect.

Now you want a union?

Yeah,
Gup

Some blame for that lies on the Frontier pilots side as well!