Open Letter To Fence Sitters
To all of you who are don't want to send in your card, here are a few things to think about:
First, sending in your card does not mean you are voting "yes" to a union. It will enable an open discussion about the pros and cons of a union for a period of time. At a certain date, a vote will happen where everyone will have the chance to voice an opionion. If after all the discussion you want to vote against, go ahead. But without sending in you card, we won't even have the chance to openly discuss and have a option for organization.
Second, if anyone is unsure that we will all be forced to work the "flex" schedule in the future, they are crazy. Without the protection of a contrat...or status quo (meaning things can't change once we vote "yes" for organization), we can be forced into this at any time.....an example of this was the latest domicile policy changes. Everyone was told a year and a half ago that tier 3's will be grandfathered. Now look at it....no tier 3's. We need protection from the whims of management.
Third, right now some bean counter is adding up how much money can be saved by reducing our health benefits, our per diem and hotel quality. Sooner or later these things too will be reduced or taken away all together. With the protection of organization, we will have a seat at the table when these changes are being discussed.
I am not a gung-ho union guy. I have reservations about the long and troubled history of the teamsters. However, I believe at some point a union is a necassary evil. I don't want one, but I think we are at the point where we need some collective voice of our pilots in the process as our advocates. With the recent change of local unions at netjets and organizing under their own local, I believe the good now out weighs the bads of a union. I believe we will have some protection of quality of life issues, benefits and compensation. These things ARE on the chopping block in our current situation, and the only hope we have to having some involvement of what happens to us at Flight Options is to organize.
Please send in your cards to give us the chance of openly discussing if we should have a union. Again, you're not voting "yes" for a union yet, you're just enabling a chance for a vote later! This may be our only chance to have a say in our futures at Flops. If you have any questions about what I have written, PM me.
Those are my 2 cents