However, the Teamsters have no Aeromedical staff. They have no aviation lawyers, well one, but he's also president of the 747 local. There is no aviation safety staff. Who knows. Maybe they have these postions. If they do, I never heard about them in 9 years.
Any World pilots care to comment?
ALPA has no Aeromedical staff either - it is contracted out and available to Atlas as IBT members. Discussions are already in the works. My guess is after the cutbacks at ALPA there will be a number of Aviation attorneys at the Aviation Division of the IBT. ALPA also charges a premuim on their insurance programs that IBT does not have. don't forget that MANY of the past experiences with IBT are with the local 747. That is not an option for the Altas/Polar group.
We have been assured by no less than J. Hoffa Jr. that we will have our own local - it means more work for the Atlas/Polar volunteers but the programs will be designed for cargo carriers - ie. custom tailored for Atlas/Polar - not some castoff program from the legacy carriers. The "one level of safety" that ALPA has been paying lip service to, as far as flight and duty time and other cargo safety issues could now become a reality.
The IBT will be as good or as bad as we make it - our own local - our own destiny - our own programs. And we WILL have the support of the Director of the Aviation division for IBT in ALL of our efforts.
The real comments you should solicit are those from ABX - they have their own local.