To unionize or not to unionize. That is the question.

[Uncle Bunkle]

I decline! I want to be the Per Diem Chairman.

OK. But can you make sure to raise our per diem to $3.00 hour so SWABubba can afford more hot dogs?

 

[Freebrd]

$3!? Wow that would get you two of those monster dogs at Costco!

 

[OHGOON]

After stints at three now gone legacy carriers ... I'll take a local union or none, thanks.

Bob

What's a local Union?

Have you ever worked at a non-Union shop? Have you witnessed unjustified firings, pilot pushing and just-get-er-donenitise personally or are the three "now gone" Union shops your only point of reference?

 

[OHGOON]

The problem with unions is the pilots who are elected. It doesn't take long for them to settle in and get used to being home every night, expensive dinners on my dime, never work holidays, when they do travel they stay in better hotels. Some pick up trips on the side and make a killing. It happens in every Union I've been in. (5) for me. Before some jackleg gets on here to tell me what a huge sacrifice they made in their union. I'll just say this, if it was worse than line flying you'd be back on line. I have yet to be associated with a union that hasn't been accused (with good reason) of acting in this manner.

I'm just curious, do you know what it's like to be a Union elected official first hand or are you part of the too lazy to ever land a hand but bitch at every opportunity anyway crowd? In other words, do you speak from actual experience or are you just flapping your gums, re-repeating what you've heard others say out on the line?

This kind of crap about Unions is what keeps our profession eternally divided...who is ultimately helped by that I wonder?

 

[SWA Bubba]

What's a local Union?

Have you ever worked at a non-Union shop? Have you witnessed unjustified firings, pilot pushing and just-get-er-donenitise personally or are the three "now gone" Union shops your only point of reference?

Are you really that dense, or are you just trying to get a rise out of the poster? A "local union" is a union that is not a chapter of a national union (such as at Delta and United, which each host a local chapter of ALPA), but is instead completely autonomous, and represents one airline exclusively. Examples include APA for American Airlines' pilots, and SWAPA for Southwest Airlines' pilots.

Bubba

 

[BobbyBiplane]

What's a local Union?

Have you ever worked at a non-Union shop? Have you witnessed unjustified firings, pilot pushing and just-get-er-donenitise personally or are the three "now gone" Union shops your only point of reference?

I have worked at both non-union and local (defined as "Not associated with a national organization.") air carriers. I prefer both to my ALPA experiences at legacies or my Teamsters experiences (my least favored option).

I have never seen unjustified firings nor pilot pushing nor any other expression you use. My peers and I have always held our ground without pushing or arm twisting. It sounds to me that you need to develop a better standard when you accept work.

I am approaching 65 wish you well as I transition out of the GV and head off to fun flying.

Bob

 

[sstearns2]

Is management working on your best interest? JB and vx were the last major airlines to be non union. The only regional I can think of is sky west.

This is a union profession and an unfortunate nessesary evil of our careers.

I was at SkyWest for 14 years and have been at UAL for a few months. The union argument at SkyWest or any regional is strong for and against. There are definite benefits to a union at a regional, but the whole point of the regional "fee for departure" model was/is to circumvent the unions and drive down labor cost since the regional labor union has no leverage against the people who actually get the real revenue (i.e. mainline).

At United or any mainline carrier (meaning your paycheck comes from the company that sells the seats) then union all the way.

Scott

 

[pilotyip]

since the regional labor union has no leverage against the people who actually get the real revenue (i.e. mainline). Scott

Which gets you the ComAir solution, read unemployment. With the pilot shortage like now, voting with your feet may be a much quicker way to improve the job. I am betting a lot of this sign up bonus money and retention incentives money is coming from the mainline partner which are finding this low labor cost is a broken model. I am guessing that the regional problem is killing mainline feed.

 

[GlorifiedCabbie]

Yip are you hiring?