NJA was my first choice but back then I would have taken which ever came first. Some of my reasons for choosing NJA were financial stability, reputation, size, diversity, new a/c etc. Being that I lived at my gateway and I was going to be a commuting airline pilot the gateway issue was not really an issue for me.
As for the unions, I am one of the most vocal with respect to the delay and progress of this contract. My perceived notion that Local 284 doesnt truly represent the pilots and my dues are for the most part wasted on a trucker somewhere are well documented. That being said, I honestly would not work for a company of this size without it. There are certain luxuries afforded to us as union pilots. That representation, albeit not perfect, is something I cherish and count on. Issues between the company and union do take longer but they are documented and abided by. We had a pilot return to service after a year on the street. He filed his grievance over his termination and the union got him his job back. The company changed a couple of rules relating to extended days and consequently extended day pay and time off so the union filed a grievance and won. We received our back pay and days off. Granted this took over 6 months but the pilots won.
With a non-union company the company will change its tone towards the pilots to suit the situation. Rumor has it that FLOPS pilots will be getting a raise soon or so I hear. The company wants to make sure you dont vote in a union. They will, for lack of a better term, kiss your butts to make sure that doesnt happen. Rest assured as quickly as they chnaged their tune it will change again. Almost anything goes with a non-union company and there isnt a whole lot the pilots can do.
I would love to work for jetBlue and they dont have a union but mark my words within a few years they will. With size comes diversity in the employees. No longer is HR able to hire that one specific team player. Diversity dictates just that. People will expect different things and when the company cannot satisfy everyone, things change.
Trust me, vote the union in. Give yourself to have a structured growth. For example, think of scope. One of the single most important issues for companies of our size. Under a employee handbook agreement you have no protection. Think of benefits or seniority. Without a contract you have no protection for changes to either. Let pose an example for you. Say FLOPS starts doing poorly financialy and they decided to get rid of the Challengers or Falcons, they can furlough just those pilots out of seniority. The large cabin aircraft are taking a hit so that is a possibility. Wehre is your protection. Also, in keeping with the example, you could lose you health benefits or be made to pay for them yourself. Not a big deal for an individual but think of it in terms of a typical family. That could certainly be expensive.
There are tons of issues to be concerned with. Aunion contract helps you know where you stand. Its not perfect at all but I will take it anyday over the alternative.
Oh yeah, one last thing. The BBJ contract was completed only a few years ago. Our contract was already voted in and the amendable date had not been reached yet. Either way we are getting a new contract. I expect it sooner than later and the "proof will be in the pudding". Hopefully it will be good other wise our MEC and the Local 284 with be up the perverbial tributary without sufficient means of propulsion. 2000 broke, pist off pilots isnt something I want on my hands...
As for the unions, I am one of the most vocal with respect to the delay and progress of this contract. My perceived notion that Local 284 doesnt truly represent the pilots and my dues are for the most part wasted on a trucker somewhere are well documented. That being said, I honestly would not work for a company of this size without it. There are certain luxuries afforded to us as union pilots. That representation, albeit not perfect, is something I cherish and count on. Issues between the company and union do take longer but they are documented and abided by. We had a pilot return to service after a year on the street. He filed his grievance over his termination and the union got him his job back. The company changed a couple of rules relating to extended days and consequently extended day pay and time off so the union filed a grievance and won. We received our back pay and days off. Granted this took over 6 months but the pilots won.
With a non-union company the company will change its tone towards the pilots to suit the situation. Rumor has it that FLOPS pilots will be getting a raise soon or so I hear. The company wants to make sure you dont vote in a union. They will, for lack of a better term, kiss your butts to make sure that doesnt happen. Rest assured as quickly as they chnaged their tune it will change again. Almost anything goes with a non-union company and there isnt a whole lot the pilots can do.
I would love to work for jetBlue and they dont have a union but mark my words within a few years they will. With size comes diversity in the employees. No longer is HR able to hire that one specific team player. Diversity dictates just that. People will expect different things and when the company cannot satisfy everyone, things change.
Trust me, vote the union in. Give yourself to have a structured growth. For example, think of scope. One of the single most important issues for companies of our size. Under a employee handbook agreement you have no protection. Think of benefits or seniority. Without a contract you have no protection for changes to either. Let pose an example for you. Say FLOPS starts doing poorly financialy and they decided to get rid of the Challengers or Falcons, they can furlough just those pilots out of seniority. The large cabin aircraft are taking a hit so that is a possibility. Wehre is your protection. Also, in keeping with the example, you could lose you health benefits or be made to pay for them yourself. Not a big deal for an individual but think of it in terms of a typical family. That could certainly be expensive.
There are tons of issues to be concerned with. Aunion contract helps you know where you stand. Its not perfect at all but I will take it anyday over the alternative.
Oh yeah, one last thing. The BBJ contract was completed only a few years ago. Our contract was already voted in and the amendable date had not been reached yet. Either way we are getting a new contract. I expect it sooner than later and the "proof will be in the pudding". Hopefully it will be good other wise our MEC and the Local 284 with be up the perverbial tributary without sufficient means of propulsion. 2000 broke, pist off pilots isnt something I want on my hands...
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