fischman:
You ?outgrew? the IBT because ya?ll eventually figured out what they were all about.
You wrote a very excellent post and deserve a reply. I agree with your first 2 points.
1). You will make more money?ALPA proved that long ago, and NJ more recently. But the ultimate arbiter is the marketplace and what the market will bear. A union puts pressure on management to get the best pay, and that is good. Not correct. The market will pay a non-union pilot market prices. A union pilot gets paid what the company can afford and is collectively negotiated. In other words, union pilots are paid above market wages. For example, if NJ's TA passes, we will have Phenom pilots at over $200k. Show me a non-union shop ANYWHERE that will pay a Phenom pilot that.
2). I?ve never personally need a union, but agree with your points. That's because you're management.
3). As far as this goes, I?ve never been pressured to fly when it is unsafe to go, neither at Flex or DAC. Both of these places emphasize safety and apparently realize the impact an accident would have on the company. I have NO problem telling pac?s or dispatch that we can?t go because of safety concerns. Never had any negative feedback either. Most folks appreciate good judgment.
So again, VOTE NO and get rid of this despicable culture-destroying IBT , IMPROVE your and your families lives next year with market wages, and enjoy the day. How do you expect them to improve their lives without a union? Are you, out of the generosity of your heart, going to give them better and fair work rules, raises, benefits, and upgrades in seniority order? I don't think so. The ONLY way to guarantee that is to vote in a union and put boots to pavement.
Again. These are YOUR pilots. Why do you think so terribly of them? Like I stated earlier, the IBT has very little to do with your local. It is the LOCAL ELECTED LEADERS and VOLUNTEERS that run the union. The union isn't the IBT. The union is YOUR PILOTS. So I ask you again, why do you speak so terribly about your crews? Knowing you are management and how little you think of your own people would be enough for me to vote yes.