Colgan Pilots ALPA Organizing Committee

[byarid]

Who are the Colgan Pilots ALPA Organizing Committee?

Whoever they are, I cannot find out from the company or after posting a request to ALPA (info@alpa.org) who these people are.

I was willing to remain netural regarding unions and Colgan Air. But, that has now changed as the Organizing Committee have submitted my name to ALPA for unsolicated mailings.

Submitting my name to ALPA without my knowledge is disrespectful to me and the other Professional Colgan Air pilots whose names were given to ALPA.

So, I am off the fence and my vote is NO to a union. If this is the way the Organizing Committee and their handlers from ALPA is going to treat people, I want no part of it.

NOTE to the readers of this posting - Check out WWW.unionfacts.com. ALPA CEO makes over $400,000 with a membership of over 61,000. Their operation budget looks like the buget of a small third world country.

One more analogy: I surmize ALPA is like our Congress - Promise a chicken in every pot; pay your taxes (dues); and get nothing in return.

[OldTownPilot]

One very active member of the organizing committee posts on here regularly. He will be back in a few days from his recharging vacation.

Until then you have NO IDEA what you are talking about. Capt. Prater is voluntarily only taking what he would have been earning as a line pilot. Trust me, that amount is NOWHERE near 400,000 dollars. And to back up all your claims you point us to a totally biased website? Try again. If I had a copy of the seniority list at Colgan It would not be that hard to get the addresses to a majority of the pilots. The FAA registry is a wonderful thing

[BobDDuck]

Unionfacts is a bit of a biased website. Do some research on who has put that out. You will find that it is some of the biggest union busting groups out there.

I don't think that anybody at ColganALPA is being secretive. They do have to take some precautions as the there is bound to be some backlash against them, but nobody is hiding from what I have seen. As to why your name was submitted to ALPA for mailings, who knows? It probably is part of an educational campaign. I'm sure the company has been plastering you with memos about how bad an idea a union would be and how much they would like to work with you to make Colgan a better place. I would expect to see the Qs get hung over your head next. Hopefully you won't fall for it, but just as voting NO for a union is your right, if you want to go along with what the company says, that too is certainly your right. I don't think you should feel pressured to vote either way. That said, from the outside looking in, you guys sure as hell need a union over there.

[H46Bubba]

Originally Posted by byarid

Who are the Colgan Pilots ALPA Organizing Committee?

Whoever they are, I cannot find out from the company or after posting a request to ALPA (info@alpa.org) who these people are.

I was willing to remain netural regarding unions and Colgan Air. But, that has now changed as the Organizing Committee have submitted my name to ALPA for unsolicated mailings.

Submitting my name to ALPA without my knowledge is disrespectful to me and the other Professional Colgan Air pilots whose names were given to ALPA.

So, I am off the fence and my vote is NO to a union. If this is the way the Organizing Committee and their handlers from ALPA is going to treat people, I want no part of it.

NOTE to the readers of this posting - Check out WWW.unionfacts.com. ALPA CEO makes over $400,000 with a membership of over 61,000. Their operation budget looks like the buget of a small third world country.

One more analogy: I surmize ALPA is like our Congress - Promise a chicken in every pot; pay your taxes (dues); and get nothing in return.

I'm sorry dude but with you being new and having only one post, I've very suspicious as to who you really are and what your motives are. We're really good about weeding out flame baiters and trollers. If you really were a Colgan pilot, you'd know who the committee members where! Tell Chuck your plan failed!

[falconvalley]

Looks to me like boring rhetoric...

[mikecweb]

I'm going to exercise my and take Amber's advice on this and everything else I read today about "new" things.

[H46Bubba]

But I do think getting a new screen name and posting anti union stuff is taking it a tad to far.

[Kristie]

not if you want to get someone's aire up!

[BobDDuck]

Originally Posted by Kristie

not if you want to get someone's aire up!

aire
noun a river in northern England that flows southeast through West Yorkshire



Ire maybe?

[Chris_Ford]

I do believe she meant "heir"

[byarid]

When a member of the Colgan Pilots ALPA Organizing Committe get on the board, he'll know who I am. I don't need to hide behind some fancy user's name. I want him to call me directly, he can get my number from crew scheduling!!

As for unionfacts.com, everything out on the internet should be taken with a grain of salt. Been there before and have experience what union can or can not do for you.

Thanks for your response.

[jtrain609]

So you think the Colgans are going to be able to help you when you get stapeled on to Pinnacle's list?

You don't think it's gonna happen?

You trust them?

With your career?

With your future?

If you're ALPA, there are procedures for integrating lists that have to be followed.

You don't think it'll happen?

Good luck.

[higney85]

You can bust on unions and accuse of being someone else blah blah- BUT the facts remain that right now the 2% out of a paycheck cant hurt you. PNCL management can come to colgan today and say - "10% paycut across the board" and you can do 1 of 2 things... 1) take the pay cut and come on here to complain about it, or 2) have a union in place that tells mgmt NO and you go on with life and the ability to stay strong as a pilot group and fight back against mgmt. Colgan is known to have a good group of guys/gals but PNCL mgmt is not the same as Chuck- they run a business and dont put faces with names. They dont care that you cant afford rent cause you are paid horribly- their job is to make money for shareholders. PNCL does this well, and unless you are an employee AND stockholder you wouldnt see that. ALPA can only help colgan, and hurt the rest of the union pilot group by turning into an unwilling pawn against them. As a 9E guy myself I am not a cheerleader for you to join ALPA, but I will say that it will not hurt you near as bad as it could help. And you can believe the union bashing site if you also wanna believe that all airline pilots make $100+K a year as many sites claim- I dunno about you but living on a plane at $20.73 an hour still wouldnt make me $100K in a year!.. take some things with a grain of salt.

[Airdale]

Originally Posted by byarid

When a member of the Colgan Pilots ALPA Organizing Committe get on the board, he'll know who I am. I don't need to hide behind some fancy user's name. I want him to call me directly, he can get my number from crew scheduling!!

As for unionfacts.com, everything out on the internet should be taken with a grain of salt. Been there before and have experience what union can or can not do for you.

Thanks for your response.

So...let me get this straight. You registered here at JC just to rant about your personal union issues?

Welcome to the site! Thanks for contributing!!

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by byarid

Who are the Colgan Pilots ALPA Organizing Committee?

Whoever they are, I cannot find out from the company or after posting a request to ALPA (info@alpa.org) who these people are.

I was willing to remain netural regarding unions and Colgan Air. But, that has now changed as the Organizing Committee have submitted my name to ALPA for unsolicated mailings.

Submitting my name to ALPA without my knowledge is disrespectful to me and the other Professional Colgan Air pilots whose names were given to ALPA.

So, I am off the fence and my vote is NO to a union. If this is the way the Organizing Committee and their handlers from ALPA is going to treat people, I want no part of it.

NOTE to the readers of this posting - Check out WWW.unionfacts.com. ALPA CEO makes over $400,000 with a membership of over 61,000. Their operation budget looks like the buget of a small third world country.

One more analogy: I surmize ALPA is like our Congress - Promise a chicken in every pot; pay your taxes (dues); and get nothing in return.

Originally Posted by byarid

When a member of the Colgan Pilots ALPA Organizing Committe get on the board, he'll know who I am. I don't need to hide behind some fancy user's name. I want him to call me directly, he can get my number from crew scheduling!!

As for unionfacts.com, everything out on the internet should be taken with a grain of salt. Been there before and have experience what union can or can not do for you.

Thanks for your response.

Hi, my name is Mark Segaloff an ALB based FO and a member of the Organizing Committee at Colgan Air. Sorry it has taken a while to get back to you, but I was away on vacation.

First and foremost, your name was NOT submitted to ALPA for unsolicited emails as you say. Your address was obtained using public information using the FAA Online Airman Registry. You could write the FAA to have your address removed. Secondly, if you want to stop getting emails or mail concerning the union drive that is your choice. But in my mind not a well educated one. You can email me and I will assure you your name will be removed. However, that is cutting off your education concerning the union drive and what we are trying to bring to the Colgan Pilots. My phone number is 732-306-7795.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Mark

[H46Bubba]

Seggy, you guys back from Italy? Can't wait for the pics!

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by H46Bubba

Seggy, you guys back from Italy? Can't wait for the pics!

Mr. Andrew has em!

[AmazingPilot]

Is there any truth that the Colgan will make good on there promises?
I think its a means to an end, at least there offering to make some type of amends with the employees?
Personally I doubt it will lead to much, but it seems like a step in the right direction.

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by AmazingPilot

Is there any truth that the Colgan will make good on there promises?
I think its a means to an end, at least there offering to make some type of amends with the employees?
Personally I doubt it will lead to much, but it seems like a step in the right direction.

What won't lead in the right direction?

What type of promises and amends are you talking about?

[AmazingPilot]

Originally Posted by Seggy

What won't lead in the right direction?

What type of promises and amends are you talking about?

The promises and amends that the pilot group coordinated on with each other, without the outside help of ALPA. Being on the union organizing committee board i'm sure you must have known about this.
These are the requests and recomendations to management from the pilot group directly. It's not final yet, but I think we all know what the outcome will be pay.
Don't hold your breath, but last I heard is that they are trying to work some numbers. Not sure what that means though.

www.colganpilotgroup.com

[Seggy]

We need a legal collective bargaining voice.

ONLY ALPA (or a LEGAL union certified by the NMB) can provide that.

ALPA will give us career insurance.

We are bottom rung at Colgan, simple as that. It is time to raise the bar. ALPA will provide us with the resources to do so.

We are professional airline pilots first, we need to be treated as such. We can be treated like a real professional with a LEGAL binding contract.

67,000 Pilots in the US are ALPA

94% of airlines are unionized

ALPA provides benefits that will enable us to help the company grow, protect ourselves, and further our career.

[BobDDuck]

Amazingpilot I think you are missing the point. Your company has made no effort to get input from the pilots in the past. I suppose they could claim ignorance of pilot needs, but some how I doubt that. So all of the sudden when threatened with their pilot group organizing, they agree to hear the pilots needs. That's great. It means they are responsive.

Two problems though.

Say that they do agree to meet what you guys are asking for. The union effort dies off because people see the positive change coming and loose interest in ALPA. What is to stop the company from going back on the things they said they would do? The contract? Oh wait, you don't have one of those.

And even if they do make the changes and actually stick to them, what about the next time you want something. Do you think they are even going to listen?

Additionally ALPA is a whole lot more then just getting a contract in place. Educate yourself a bit.

[SmitteyB]

Who put together ColganPilotGroup.com?

The Colgans?

or

Is there opposition from within the pilot group to a union?

[AmazingPilot]

I think educating myself starts with a whole lot more then just deciding to join a union by the actions of my peers. So if you consider joining your union BOBDUCK, I think I'll do my ressearch and make MY OWN informed decision. Apparently you and I have different opinions of what educated is.
I believe the Colgan Air Pilot Group was formed by some of the senior pilots who have been here for at least 2-3 years.
Maybe its a stall tactic by managment, but who knows.
I think most pilots here are under the motivation to get there time and move on, Colgan has always been that type of company.
I hear ALPA supporters talking about protection all the time, but I know pilots who have been working here unprotected for years and years, I also know of said unprotected pilots moving on to major legacy carriers.
So my question is that why can't a private colgan union constitute an adequate collective barganing device?

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by AmazingPilot

I think educating myself starts with a whole lot more then just deciding to join a union by the actions of my peers. So if you consider joining your union BOBDUCK, I think I'll do my ressearch and make MY OWN informed decision. Apparently you and I have different opinions of what educated is.
I believe the Colgan Air Pilot Group was formed by some of the senior pilots who have been here for at least 2-3 years.
Maybe its a stall tactic by managment, but who knows.
I think most pilots here are under the motivation to get there time and move on, Colgan has always been that type of company.
I hear ALPA supporters talking about protection all the time, but I know pilots who have been working here unprotected for years and years, I also know of said unprotected pilots moving on to major legacy carriers.
So my question is that why can't a private colgan union constitute an adequate collective barganing device?

A few points. First and foremost BobDDuck is an ALPA member. Secondly, think about it there are 67,000 members of ALPA and 94% of airlines are UNIONIZED. It is time for us at Colgan to join this fraternity.

Take a look at what happened to private pilot groups at Continental and FedEX. They both went to ALPA. It has been proven that private pilot groups DO NOT WORK.

A private Colgan group would BE ILLEGAL UNLESS the National Mediation Board certifies it. The ONLY way it would be certified is if you return your card and then the NMB conducts a vote with the Pilot group and a majority vote for an internal pilot group is represented.

By definition the Colgan pilot group is acting ILLEGALLY to even mention a collective bargaining voice on their website.

You say you want to move on to greener pastures, we all hope to. However, take a look at some of our senior captains. Why haven't they been able to move on? What happens if another 9/11 happens tomorrow? Would you drive a car without insurance? Why should we go through our careers at Colgan without an insurance policy? Our insurance policy IS ALPA.

If you have questions concerning the union please give me a call at 732-306-7795.