Polar Air Cargo Is ON STRIKE!

[Craven Morhead]

With a 99.23% strike vote, I have a feeling it will.

I don't actually work there, but I have many friends that do. I am just glad to see a group of pilots standing up for a better life in todays airline industry where most pilot groups are taking huge pay cuts.

I think everyone needs to be behind these guys, this could be the start of a turning point for this profession. Atlas, UPS, FedEx are all next at the table. We need to get things moving in the right direction again!

Well there you have it. " I dont actually work there ". Yet you make accusations and sling the scab word around so freely. The strike is barely 12 hours old and you throw grenades in the room. You suck!!!Ive flown with your type, usually the first words out of your mouth is "heard any rumors lately". You seem to thrive on rumors and others misfortune. I love the comment about no scabs at Polar...nice touch. You are truly a piece of work.

Sir, these are very serious times ahead of us and for you to make such uneducated accusations is criminal.

The Atlas MEC had a conference call today at 12est and spelled out further the struck rules. The problem hear is that it isnt so cut and dry as to what crossing the line is. A case in point...there is picketing at the Mia training center and a crew member is scheduled for his PC. He notifies sked and they threaten him if he doesnt show. Now he finds a way around the building and goes in. Now does that make him a scab?? ( this is for the general public, not furloughfodder, he coudnt comprehend the scope of this issue)

- Atlas and Polar are two seperate airlines...period
- The picket lines will be honored but Atlas has their own flights and they must be flown
- Atlas crews are not flying Polar flights and the company knows they cant be forced to do so!!

 

[bman]

Well He!!,

Seems like they've gone and done it. Regardless of what I've said before, I know you guys' livelihoods are on the line at this point. That's a very serious thing!

So it is my sincere hope that you guys can stand the test and get whatever it takes to get you back working. This biz is brutal, but when it comes down to labor vs Mgmt there's no question about which side to choose.

First week in October ( after my trips & if it lasts that long) I'm headin down to MIA with a Box-o-Krispy-Kremes, coffee, and some protest music!!

Keep yer heads up,

Bman

 

[NYCPilot]

...so ahhhh...where can I apply to get a job flying those Polar Air jets while you guys are on strike???



heh. Just kidding.
Wish you the best during your negotiations.

 

[FreightNazi]

What is the Polar 747-400 doing on the UPS ramp in RFD? Conspiracy theorists want to know!

 

[blackbox]

Is atlas part of ALPA??

I ran into a Polar pilot last nite at a copy store. He told me they were about to go on strike and he was making copies to hand out to drivers. I wanted to help him out passing out flyers, but i had to catch flight to work. Good luck guys

 

[heilhaavir]

Guys & girls, watch how you use the word "scab". We are monitoring what's going on, we are taking pictures, we are getting info from insiders at many airlines, but do not accuse until you get proof.

For those of you who aren't sure if what you are asked to do is ok, call your MEC and if you get the green light then do your job.

 

[Yank McCobb]

Don't accuse until you get proof? Why, that's not the Flightinfo way.

 

[furloughfodder]

Craven Morhead,

I am not really sure what you are so hostile about. I would like you to point out to me where I am "throwing the scab word around"?? I said that I think the majority of the Atlas crews are 100% behind the Polar guys. The only time I mentioned scab is when someone else asked if there were any scabs at Atlas. I'm not going to lie and say there are none when there are quite a few.

Also, shouldn't you be proud of the fact that there are no scabs at Polar? I think it is a pretty good reason to want to back these guys even more.

Please re-read my posts, I am not trying to stir the pot...just trying to get the word out.

PS- I wouldn't consider you a scab for going to a PC at the Crystal Palace in MIA, but then again....I don't work there

 

[furloughfodder]

Do you honestly believe that a non-striking Atlas pilot showing at MIA for training and walking past a picket line of Polar pilots constitutes scabbing??? I don't even think the hardest of hardcore unionists would be that stupid.

I agree T-Gates. That really doesn't make any sense.

 

[furloughfodder]

Thanks FedEx!

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- FedEx pilots, as represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l. (ALPA), have pledged their support to Polar Air Cargo crewmembers in the event of a Polar strike that could begin as early as 12:01 a.m. EDT Friday, Sept.16. The FedEx pilots’ Master Executive Council (MEC) offered their support in a unanimous vote yesterday.

“Polar crewmembers have been negotiating for more than two years and only are seeking a fair contract that recognizes their contributions and allows their company to grow,” said Captain David Webb, FedEx MEC Chairman. “They do not want to go on strike, but the FedEx pilots stand ready to assist them in any way we can should that happen.”

The National Mediation Board released Polar crewmembers and Polar management from mediated talks into a 30-day “cooling-off” period in August. If there is no negotiated agreement before the expiration of the 30-day period at 12:01 a.m. Sept. 16, the crewmembers are free to strike.

Day and night and 365 days a year, the 4,300 professional FedEx pilots--representing the air division of the FedEx brand and helping generate nearly two-thirds of FedEx Corporation’s annual revenue--fly to cities on five continents, making FedEx among the largest and most profitable airlines by any measure. Founded in 1931, ALPA represents 64,000 pilots at 41 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at http://www.alpa.org.

 

[pilotyip]

"Our finest hour"

Not to flame or start any kind of a contest. But strikes are not sure things. I am sure the CAL pilots in 1983 and the EAL pilots in 1989 felt the same way that it was their "Our finest hour".

 

[Craven Morhead]

Do you honestly believe that a non-striking Atlas pilot showing at MIA for training and walking past a picket line of Polar pilots constitutes scabbing??? I don't even think the hardest of hardcore unionists would be that stupid.

I agree and this was not the best example. The point is that the Polar/Atlas situation is a unique one in that two seperate airlines operate under the same holding company. I had a crewmember say if they put "polar" stairs up to the plane we should refuse to exit , or what if the crew van says Polar.

Since Polar was purchased by Atlas, assets have been comingled. So this can be interpreted in many different ways.

Ive looked at all the schedules and the Polar designation has all but disappeared. What is gonna happen now is the ole shell game and crews are gonna actually have to go through the shipping docs to ensure the freight is not Polar.

This is gonna be a tough time for all and now is not the time to even get into mud slinging and name calling. If any Atlas crews knowingly operate a Polar call sign, the in house discipline will be severe. Until then, lets keep it cool.

Btw, i'd like a link to this "scab" list that is being mentioned that "many" Atlas pilots are part of. I know of 5 out of 800 and that doesnt constitute many.

 

[furloughfodder]

The master scab list is available to anyone. I have a copy on my hard drive and it shows around 22 scabs at Atlas.

I think we should just drop the whole scab theme on this thread. It is not what the thread should be about. It is about supporting a group of pilots that are on strike because they are trying to get a fair contract. There is picketing going on today by uniformed Polar and Atlas crewmembers in ICN, HKG, ANC, ORD, NRT, JFK, IAH, LAX, MIA, PIK, AMS, VCP and Purchase. Other crew members are stranded around the world after parking their planes.

These guys need the support of the whole aviation community, and I know they will get it. Let's hope for a fast resolution, so that when the two companies merge they will both have a better leg to stand on getting a merged contract. That is really what this is all about.

 

[B-atch]

UNIFIED we are...Best of luck to us all....

 

[Corporate Slug]

All Concerened,


Please do not use the scab word just yet. According to the reports the Atlas crews are being dilligent about checking for Polar freight being loaded on their airplanes. There were 4 pallets of freight discovered and pulled sometime earlier today by an Atlas crew.

There were earlier reports of airplanes moving but most have been atributed to repositions to storage by contract crews (Boeing crews is the word) As far as can be determined from what I have heard no Polar freight is moving.

So far the support has been 100% from what I have been hearing from the picket lines. There are reports of pilots from other airlines (Freighters and Pax haulers) helping out on the phones and such on their day off.

I doubt that there is much worry about someone crossing the line and getting away with it unknown, there are cameras everywhere and it is not too difficult to keep track of an airplane as large as a 74!!

Good luck to all the pilots involved.