Polar Air Cargo, 30 days out from possible strike.

[B747FR8DAWG]

Any updates on the situation? Good luck - unify for long-term gain!!!!

On Your Six,

A temporary restraining order was filed yesterday ordering Atlas crew members to return to work, and to not get involved with the Polar strike, and to cross all picket lines, and keep the Atlas operation going. I'm sure Polar will appeal, but I don't believe they will prevail in this endeavour.

It's not looking too good for the Polar crews, maybe some of the Polar guys on this board can give us some insight from their side of the fence.

Good luck to all involved

 

[Whale Rider]

On Your Six,

A temporary restraining order was filed yesterday ordering Atlas crew members to return to work, and to not get involved with the Polar strike, and to cross all picket lines, and keep the Atlas operation going. I'm sure Polar will appeal, but I don't believe they will prevail in this endeavour.

It's not looking too good for the Polar crews, maybe some of the Polar guys on this board can give us some insight from their side of the fence.

Good luck to all involved

Why do you believe this? Why do you say things are not looking good good for Polar? Do you still believe there is a problem between Atlas and Polar crews???

 

[furloughfodder]

I really hate to admit this, but I think B747FR8DAWG is right about this one. The odds of Polar getting a favorable ruling in tomorrow's court hearing is slim at best. We have a staunch anti-labor republican government in place right now. The last place you want a labor dispute ending up is in federal court these days.

I really hope I am wrong, but I am not optimistic.

 

[B747FR8DAWG]

Why do you believe this? Why do you say things are not looking good good for Polar? Do you still believe there is a problem between Atlas and Polar crews???

Hey there is no problem with the Polar or Atlas crews, it's the Polar appeal to the restraining order, where the problem lies. The courts these days are anti-labor, and I'm sure the company will state the fact that we do a significant amout of flying on behalf of the US military, and that our services are necessary to those troops based overseas, and I'm sure they will reiterate that it's Polar on strike not Atlas!

Good luck guys!

 

[heilhaavir]

Correct Fr8dawg and the injunction was to be expected. Fair game

 

[Whale Rider]

Hey there is no problem with the Polar or Atlas crews, it's the Polar appeal to the restraining order, where the problem lies. The courts these days are anti-labor, and I'm sure the company will state the fact that we do a significant amout of flying on behalf of the US military, and that our services are necessary to those troops based overseas, and I'm sure they will reiterate that it's Polar on strike not Atlas!

Good luck guys!

I guess we'll find out real soon.

 

[Corporate Slug]

Just heard that the Judge ruled in the Unions favor. There are some restrictions, but suffice it to say the Company is really going to be under pressure.

States that no Atlas crew member can be forced to cross any Polar line.....but he/she has to see the line. This effectivly shuts down the training center and Alaska airports.

Vars should be up on the subject shortly. My info came from a friend manning the lines, so I do not have the full details yet.

 

[furloughfodder]

I heard this as well! I am extremely excited about this, I have to admit I was not that optimistic! I love being proven wrong!!!!

 

[Corporate Slug]

Just heard that the Judge ruled in the Unions favor. There are some restrictions, but suffice it to say the Company is really going to be under pressure.

States that no Atlas crew member can be forced to cross any Polar line.....but he/she has to see the line. This effectivly shuts down the training center and Alaska airports.

Vars should be up on the subject shortly. My info came from a friend manning the lines, so I do not have the full details yet.

EDIT: VARS is now up on the subject. My guess is that ALPA national and the Atlas MEC will be coming out with something soon re-establishing the affirmation of SCAB status for any crew member crossing a legal picket line.

 

[N1N2]

Does this include people who are in new hire training status, or will they still be allowed to attend class?

 

[heilhaavir]

There should be no change as far as the new hires are concerned, they should still be allowed to attend class. Listen to your Vars and ask if in doubt.

-300 i guess you'll need some more rest. Might be a good time for vacation

 

[Corporate Slug]

Does this include people who are in new hire training status, or will they still be allowed to attend class?

Would not include newbies as per the contract, and many Atlas ground instructors are not ALPA. It would however shut down the sim portion of training since the instructors are Atlas pilots (Unless they cross the line).

A student would not be a scab until they completed IOE. If they fly an airplane after they have been cleared to the line then all bets are off.

That is the way I understand it, however make sure you get an official ruling from the MEC prior to operating any airplane, Personally I would get something in writing from ALPA prior to attending a ground school. I am not about to scab for anybody, especially a company that fires probationary newhires just because they were mad at the Union and prior to any self help actions.

(NOTE: Do not take this as gospel, contact your MEC if you have any questions. They are the only source for official info on the subject.)

 

[Corporate Slug]

Further info....

Looks like the restraining order is in effect, to an extent. The struck work rules are still out, however the court did rule that no Atlas pilot can be disiplined for not crossing a picket line. And that they are not required to cross any Polar picket line.

So it comes down to a cat and mouse game I guess. The company will run around trying to find entrances that do not have a picket, and the picketeers will run around trying to seal the entrances.

Still looks like the training center will be shut out. Easy for the picket lines to cover it. From what I heard the Alaska and Asian airports will be easy for them to cover as well.

Getting to be like watching a football game around that place! "There he goes John, dodges a tackle, looks like he may score, but wait, at the last minute he was brought down at the door!

 

[mar]

Sympathy?

Is this how Polar expects to cultivate sympathy from the Atlas crews? By interfering with their assigned duties?

By making scabs out of guys who report for their own training?

Atlas crews were never given the privilege of taking a strike vote and now it seems as if one (a strike) has been thrust upon them.

It seems as if misery loves company and the story of Polar and Atlas will end up more like Caine and Abel.

 

[B-atch]

I LOVE you too MAR!!!!

 

[Corporate Slug]

Dunno how this one is going to play out. The struck rules are out, so that means that Atlas can load the planes with Polar cargo and not be a scab.

So the only thing left to the Polar strikers seems to be the picket lines. Looks like the Judge threw each side a bone.

At least the Atlas crews and MEC are getting a dry run of what to expect next year in their contract negotiations. Kind of like getting to be second on the green to see how fast or slow it is by watching your partner putt!

Gonna have to whip up some more popcorn and watch how this one flows.

 

[B747-300]

"-300 i guess you'll need some more rest."

Don't worry about me, Pat. I'll be fine. I'm back to a normal schedule now.

The next couple of days should be interesting.

 

[furloughfodder]

At least the Atlas crews and MEC are getting a dry run of what to expect next year in their contract negotiations.

I thought the Atlas guys have a no strike clause. They will have to sign whatever the company offers them in Janurary won't they?

 

[Whale Rider]

There should be no change as far as the new hires are concerned, they should still be allowed to attend class. Listen to your Vars and ask if in doubt.

If the newhires attend class.......Who's going to be doing the teaching???

 

[B747-300]

"Just heard that the Judge ruled in the Unions favor."

Actually, the judge ruled in favor of AAWW. He found that the company would suffer from irreparable harm in the absence of an injunction. He also stated that the no-strike LOA issue is a MINOR DISPUTE that should be resolved by a System Board.

"My guess is that ALPA national and the Atlas MEC will be coming out with something soon re-establishing the affirmation of SCAB status for any crew member crossing a legal picket line."

I doubt it. The judge ordered "ALPA, the Atlas MEC and their
members, agents, employees, and all persons and organizations acting by, in concert with, through or under them, or by and through their orders, are hereby enjoined from calling, permitting, instigating, authorizing, encouraging, participating in, approving or continuing self-
help of any kind, including, but not limited to, any strike, sympathy strike, slowdown, work stoppage, withholding of services in whole or in part, other concerted refusal to perform normal employment duties, or other cessation of work or disturbances economic or otherwise, in support of the Defendants' and/or the Master Executive Council for Polar Air Cargo's ("Polar MEC") strike activity at Polar Air Cargo, Inc. ("Polar'), provided however that the foregoing shall not require Atlas Crewmembers represented by ALPA to physically cross an actual picket line established by or on behalf of pilots represented by any union lawfully certified or recognized pursuant to the Railway Labor Act."

The above remains in effect until at least October 5, 2005.

All Atlas crewmembers are being instructed that they must continue their normal working schedule and practices and to take no steps to engage in any form of self-help, per the judges ruling.

It's amazing that anyone could try to spin this as an ALPA win. Atlas is back to operations normal today!