Fox News and local 109 letter ref pilot shortage
Members,
FOX News ran a national level story on the Pilot shortages in the Air Medical industry featuring Air Methods. We wanted to THANK Fox News (and Air Methods) for bringing national level exposure and attention to the fact that WE are grossly UNDERPAID as Air Medical Pilots considering the level of risk and responsibility that we have. There is a great deal of irony in the fact the Company who signs our paychecks is openly admitting that we are UNDERPAID, and that this is a major contributing factor to the Pilot shortage. A simple solution to this, now nationally broadcasted and openly admitted to problem, is to increase wages.
Over the term of our current contract annual raises were 3.25% and we are approaching the one-year mark without a contracted raise. If AMC and Fox News state that PAY is a major factor contributing to the shortage and is one of the reasons why the airlines are faring better through this, then WHY would AMC propose the same wage increase of 3.25% with NO BACK PAY, when it is apparent that it is not enough to change trajectory.
We understand that the NSA and reimbursements impact the company’s finances and the company has little control over this. However, the Company has total control over other ways to save money and adjust their margins to increase wages such as eliminating extremely top heavy and unnecessary tiers of management, excessive levels of executive leadership, pilot attrition and new hire costs, investing in non-revenue generating or unnecessary programs and equipment, etc. Sometimes it seems that it’s not that the company doesn’t actually ‘have the money,’ it seems more that its ‘how they choose’ to spend it that is contributing to our low wages.
For instance, recruitment versus retention. The Company currently has sign on bonuses for up to $50,000 and is paying for experience upwards of $12,000 above the current contracted rate. These high costs and benefits are ONLY for new hires and current employees are NOT eligible. Why? The airlines have remained highly competitive and kept their ranks filled because they learned years ago that there is no better investment than to invest in the Pilots and to their longevity. The current Company strategy seems to be recruitment over retention and that will only contribute to the pilot shortage in our company when the competitors are continuing to offer more. Not to mention, that it is not only a shortage of Pilots in general that is of concern, but the real danger and fear is the critical shortage of EXPERIENCED Pilots that we are already starting to see.
We are in contact with Fox News and other national news outlets to discuss what other factors are really playing into the Air Methods Pilot shortage and what ways we can work together to prevent, or at least slow this from adversely impacting our customers and more importantly our patients and communities that we serve.
Our hope is that we are able to get our voices heard on a national level platform to contribute to the conversation that AMC has started. We also hope that by time that happens AMC comes back with something truly "industry leading" and above the 3.25% with NO BACK PAY they have now proposed in two separate sessions.
The Union will continue to work with the Company in the best interest of those that we serve and all that we ask in return is a contract that is reflective of the level of RESPECT and VALUE that our company has for us.
The link to the video is attached below.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6330791349112
pan>Thank you for your continued support and professionalism.
SAFETY-RESPECT-VALUE</span>
Executive Board
OPEIU, Local No. 109