Note: This site wouldn't let me post "G-o-J-e-t" as one word. WTF?
Fellow Pilots,
This is Jason Kagan, your MEC Vice Chairman, with an update to the VARS on Thursday August 25.
Last May, the president of our Association, Capt. Duane Woerth, traveled to STL to help us send TSA management two clear messages: “give TSA flying back to the TSA pilots” and “G-o-J-e-t can become a building block or a battleground, management needs to decide.”
After Captain Woerth’s visit, TSA management finally agreed to come to the bargaining table. With the support and guidance of ALPA national officers and staff, your MEC recently offered a proposal to TSA management that would allow us to become the most competitive 70 seat carrier in the industry. That proposal was a building block offered by ALPA.
Today, with great disappointment, I announce TSA management has refused to respond to our proposal, effectively abandoning negotiations to pursue other alternatives.
The choice was clear, “building blocks or battleground.” TSA management has chosen a battleground.
The pilots of TSA did not ask for this fight. All we asked for was an opportunity to operate these 70 seat jets at a pay rate comparable to the industry. After all, it was our dedicated effort that brought this opportunity to TSA, and we believe we have the right to participate in TSA’s continued growth.
By refusing to offer a proposal and abandoning negotiations, TSA management has sent a clear message to the TSA pilot group: your dedicated efforts don’t matter. TSA management has left us no alternative but to fight for what is rightfully ours. Brothers and Sisters, we have a long fight ahead of us, we have to remain focused, unified, and confident that our union of more than 60,000 members will help us prevail.
With that said, I cannot over stress the importance of continuing to conduct ourselves as the professionals we are. With the help of ALPA National, we will begin a series of legal initiatives intended to demonstrate our solidarity. We will take the high road and we will remain on the high ground. I want to make one thing absolutely clear: your MEC does not support and will not condone any illegal job actions against the Company. Conduct your day-to-day operations as professionally as you have in the past.
On Wednesday August 31, we will conduct informational picketing at the St. Louis and Washington Dulles airports. Your MEC asks that all pilots who can attend do so to show your support for your MEC and your fellow pilots.
In St. Louis we will be meeting at the Airport Marriot Hotel at 7 A.M. We will be picketing throughout the day. In Dulles, pilots are asked to meet at the ALPA offices in Herndon; directions are available on the TSA ALPA website. There will be a shuttle to transport pilots from the Richmond domicile to Dulles Airport.
Please contact a representative for more information or check the ALPA website. We hope to see as many of you there as possible.
Fly safe. Fly your contract.
Fellow Pilots,
This is Jason Kagan, your MEC Vice Chairman, with an update to the VARS on Thursday August 25.
Last May, the president of our Association, Capt. Duane Woerth, traveled to STL to help us send TSA management two clear messages: “give TSA flying back to the TSA pilots” and “G-o-J-e-t can become a building block or a battleground, management needs to decide.”
After Captain Woerth’s visit, TSA management finally agreed to come to the bargaining table. With the support and guidance of ALPA national officers and staff, your MEC recently offered a proposal to TSA management that would allow us to become the most competitive 70 seat carrier in the industry. That proposal was a building block offered by ALPA.
Today, with great disappointment, I announce TSA management has refused to respond to our proposal, effectively abandoning negotiations to pursue other alternatives.
The choice was clear, “building blocks or battleground.” TSA management has chosen a battleground.
The pilots of TSA did not ask for this fight. All we asked for was an opportunity to operate these 70 seat jets at a pay rate comparable to the industry. After all, it was our dedicated effort that brought this opportunity to TSA, and we believe we have the right to participate in TSA’s continued growth.
By refusing to offer a proposal and abandoning negotiations, TSA management has sent a clear message to the TSA pilot group: your dedicated efforts don’t matter. TSA management has left us no alternative but to fight for what is rightfully ours. Brothers and Sisters, we have a long fight ahead of us, we have to remain focused, unified, and confident that our union of more than 60,000 members will help us prevail.
With that said, I cannot over stress the importance of continuing to conduct ourselves as the professionals we are. With the help of ALPA National, we will begin a series of legal initiatives intended to demonstrate our solidarity. We will take the high road and we will remain on the high ground. I want to make one thing absolutely clear: your MEC does not support and will not condone any illegal job actions against the Company. Conduct your day-to-day operations as professionally as you have in the past.
On Wednesday August 31, we will conduct informational picketing at the St. Louis and Washington Dulles airports. Your MEC asks that all pilots who can attend do so to show your support for your MEC and your fellow pilots.
In St. Louis we will be meeting at the Airport Marriot Hotel at 7 A.M. We will be picketing throughout the day. In Dulles, pilots are asked to meet at the ALPA offices in Herndon; directions are available on the TSA ALPA website. There will be a shuttle to transport pilots from the Richmond domicile to Dulles Airport.
Please contact a representative for more information or check the ALPA website. We hope to see as many of you there as possible.
Fly safe. Fly your contract.
