Originally Posted by dumbdumb
Even if/when Teamsters is voted in how long do you think it will take to get a contract????? And while on this subject . . . do you really think it's a good idea to go after an ABX style contract? I hardly think not. What good is that contract when you're on the street?
So come on guys/gals it's time to pull together and get this crap behind us. Again, every day without a current contract is a day that we are losing out. WAKE UP!!!
It would be great to have had this merger done a long time ago as it should have been done and us under a new merged contract. One side did everything it could to log jamb the merger for years and thus halting negotiations for a new contract. Only recently started again due to the decertification vote of ALPA thanks to
http://atlasforteamsters.com. ALPA woke up to the fact that they would be loosing 900 dues paying guys versus supporting the 170 minority wants and desires. ALPA support lasts only as long as it pays. Atlas three years out of amendable date and Polar approaching two years on our contracts. If the decertification vote goes in favor of ALPA, you can FULLY expect another log jamb initiated by ALPA (advized by some in Herndon) of the merger for their favored sons (170) on one side of this equation with a "sue us if you don't like it" approach from ALPA further chewing up more of our time and money to getting contracts for both sides combined or separated.
As to the ABX style of contract. I don't think anyone is looking to do one company style or another. I think it is going to be "our" style stealing as many examples from other contracts to help us out. Why reinvent the wheel so to speak. As to ABX, they are unfortnate as Astar to have their major customer DHL (only customer of Astar) cut them loose. ABX does have a upper hand due to the fact they have another customer in Japan flying about 6 767's. So they will probably survive though in very small numbers. Astar on the other hand, while getting much fan faired support from ALPA, will probably fall to the way side. Maybe with some "keep out of court severance pay" to the crews.
This is unfortunately what can happen when you are a ACMI company. You loose customers to others or to the original customer. That's why you need a broad customer base.
In all the cases above, when you have lawyers on staff such as ALPA, court costs don't mean much. Makes for good
PR also.
I agree a contract is over due and the company is getting a great windfall out of this.