Ball park figures but close enough to help clarify a few things. Everything is my opinion alone and may contain errors since this is mostly from memory.
1) Where is the proprosed budget of the local, which should include the following itemizations: total income as of today's membership, total dollar amount and percent of local monies to int'l, total dollar amount and percent of monies to lawyer (as a proposed standalone local one would assume they want their own full-time lawyer),
-Total income for the Atlas Local approx 1.4M to 1.6M per year.
-100% is payed directly to the local, ie 100% control of all funds.
-Approx 20% is payed to IBT.
-1.2M annually remains to fund the local.
-Staff will include Full time attoney, Negotiator, office staff operating in a dedicated place of business ("Local" office).
-All matters will be handled by the attorney, in other words if you have a problem each crewmember will work with a real attorney who will in turn handle the matter with a company representative.
-Balance of budget will go into a fund/reserve/war chest.
2) exact plans for loss of license/aeromedical team/aviation legal. I mean, God forbid, if I get hurt or violated, what EXACTLY will the teamsters do?
Those services are currently provided by an outside contractor who also provides the same exact services to Southwest Airlines. The same Loss of License, Aeromedical, Aviation legal can be had for approx $6.00 per crewmember per month... However, there are other providers which may be able to tailor a benefit package more in line with the scope of our international operations with greater coverage using existing recognized legal/insurance agencies that work on a contract basis for ALPA.
In a nut Shell, Teamsters will not provide these services just like ALPA does not provide these services. These services are provided by OUR local to OUR crewmembers with specific beneifts that match our specific needs.
3) exact structure of MEC and organized committees
-Board of directors (7 total, 6 voting, 1 tie-breaker).
-Committee structure is left to each local, more than likely there will be no change or modification other than incorporating new faces to represent both the ACMI and Scheduled aspects of our combined operation.
4) exact outline of what services are provided by the int'l for the dues money flowed uphill
-Access to the Western States Pension plan
-Access to additional legal staff to supplement the locals.
-Access to IBT resources in the event of a strike.
-A Union with a "Cargo Focus"
-A Union that will include non flight deck personal, Dispatchers, Mechanics, Loadmasters...Think big picture here.
-New resources will be announced which will cement the cargo industry and bolster the need for a cargo focused union.
5) names/resumes of all involved in proposed local, and each individual directly above, all the way to Hoffa
Does this mean you are throwing your name in the hat to run?
what about it? ALPA has a bunch of skeletons in their closet perhaps more than the IBT ever has. The difference is the IBT is working to clean house and fully supporting the move to build the Airline division into a major player in the industry.
7) What exact services from, and what monetary contribution to, Local 1224. Which I expect has their handsful with the great furloughs at that airline, and can they be expected to fulfill their obligation to us with such dire probelms at home? If so, are they foregoing their fudiciary responsibilities to their membership if they don't focus 100% of their effort during this time of intense hardship at their own airline?
Very good question!
-First we wait for the NMB.
-Once the NMB rules, that will determine the direction we proceed (single carrier status or not).
-Vote,
IF IBT is selected then 1224 has promised to assist us in the transition to our own local.
-1224 is fully funded, they have cash reserves, Attorney's on staff and office staff able to handle the additional load during a 10-12 month transition to an independent local.
-The Legal/office staff are getting paid regardless so the only aspect we will need to pay for is the "consumables, phone, fax etc" aspects during the transition.
-As soon as the vote for IBT occurs we will be free to hire legal staff and office staff to assist in the transition until permanent staffing decisions can be made by the elected board of directors.
8) Why did NetJets leave teamsters(was the largest memebership in the airline division)? Why is there an uprising against IBT at RAH (2nd largest group in terms of memebership)?
NetJets made a decision to go independant, IBT did not fight it. They have the mass to run their own union, we don't. A lot was learned from how the NJ guys were treated, those issues if not already addressed will be addressed prior to our transition.
9) Why would our local recieve professional negotiators when none of the local 747 airlines did?
-Local 747 does however the issues has become a mini-ALPA. The staff is working for multiple carriers. When was the last time an ALPA negotiator sat in on a Polar or Atlas LOA negotiation to protect the CBA intent if ever?
-Under our Atlas/Polar local, we will hire and retain dedicated legal staff and negotiating staff to oversee and maintain the "directed focus" of our committees and leadership.
10) Most importantly, does the magazine subscription fulfill my montly mustache porn quota?
Does this mean you would be willing to step up and write a monthly pub for mailing to the crews?
DBW