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Originally Posted by CAPIP1998  Let me first start by saying that I mean no disrespect to the PNCL pilots or ALPA. I want nothing more than a fair and equitable working contract for BOTH PNCL and CJC.
First, I think we can all agree that each and every one of us wants what we perceive is best for us. It is very clear that the PNCL pilot's want a list merger, which is what you perceive is best for you. That does not necessarily mean that a list merger is best for CJC. As an FO here I have listened to many CA's explain what they want. Two things are clear to me. One, the colgan pilots most definitely want a union, and two, we want a union that will represent OUR interests. I think the major problem (and why we get into these much heated discussions) is that the CJC pilots (myself included) do not know that the interests of PNCL pilots are the same as the CJC pilots. They may be, they may not be (although it's highly doubtful in my opinion). The simple fact that you are so forceful in pushing ALPA is surely reason enough for many of us to doubt your good intentions.
Secondly, I have read over and over that we (CJC pilots) need to be educated on the benefits of ALPA, and that we cannot state specific reasons for not wanting ALPA represent us. To this let me say that we do not live in a vacuum, and many of us have friends and family that work for airlines that are represented by ALPA. Many people are not happy with the way that ALPA has represented them, and they have "educated" us as well.
Each and every one of us is entitled to an opinion, and I would expect that people will stand up and argue for something they believe in. In fact, I would be disappointed if they didn't. But at the end of the day, it's one man, one vote. Please respect other people's opinions even if you don't agree with them.
So where do I stand on this issue? I am still trying to "educate" myself, which brings me back to my original question. Is a list merger unavoidable? To be clear, is there some way that a list merger could be forced upon us, and will it happen? I think this question goes to the heart of why so many CJC pilots fear ALPA representation. |
I think your sentinment echoes those of many of the CJC group. They are afraid of the prospect of ALPA "favoring" the larger pilot group and trying to force a merged seniority list. They also site the USairways merger as an example of the ALPA merger policy gone bad. Many are also very turned off by what they feel are threatening statements and intimidation by the pinnacle pilots.
To all of that I have to ask: What does the IBT offer in terms of a scenario where a merged seniority list is imposed upon us? Will they drop the CJC group because they know that they will ulitmately lose us after the merger? What is their experience with merging pilot groups? What funds and resources do they make available to a small group like CJC in the event something like this happens?
In the end, I think right now ALPA is the best measure of protection we have in this situation. ALPA also has a vested interest in making this eventual integration a fair one as they stand to lose other pilot groups in the future if it goes bad. ALPA also is our best shot at possibly getting the FAA to change some of the rest requirements, duty limits and other schedule regulations that only pilots understand. ALPA is not just about getting better per diem etc at CJC, It is also about promoting pilots interests to the government, the public and amongst our peers.
My vote for ALPA will have as much to do with non CJC-PNCL issues as it will with it.
PS: something to think about. A friend of mine who happens to be MEC member of piedmont ALPA posed an interesting argument for integration with pncl. He said that for us to negotiate work rules as good as the poor ones pinnacle currently operates under (which are better than ours by a lot) will take years. If we merge with them we will automatically get bumped up to their level and will profit from their current contract negotiations which will close soon (esp with the prospect of a much more labor friendly administration coming into office in jan). This will result in a a substantial pay raise as well for the Q and we will have the leverage of over 2000 pilots instead of a measely 500. That is a pretty generous offer from the pncl pilots, if that were to be the case which i think it can be, considering they have worked very hard and taken many risks and did all the battling to win over better pay and workrules. I would feel indebted if that turned out to be the case.