I apologize if there are any errors in my responses but here is my best shot.
The first issue I brought up, as voting in the NMB election was a prior point of discussion, was Good Standing. I let Mr. Allen know that at the prior shop, there was a problem. In between the time a crewmember was hired and the dues checkoff actually started there was usually a gap. However, there was no notice from the IBT, and it was up to the crewmember to call and verify good standing prior to each election. I mentioned that issue usually prevented a significant percentage of votes from being counted for ratification of CBAs
He did not know of any mechanism of ensuring that dues paying crewmembers would be advised if there was a clerical error preventing them from being in good standing, and thus preventing them from participation in their union. He tried to find some scrap paper to write this down and "get back to me"
Good standing will not be an option, closed shop, mandatory dues check-off. Since a union is currently on the premises, all crewmembers standing is known and up to date negating the requirement for any crewmember to call and verify standing for the purpose of voting.
This led him into telling me they are proposing a stand-alone local, and he dis-likes the main local of 747. He went on to explain that we would be attached to ABX's local of 1224, then formulate a local for all of us within 10 mos when the bylaws are written.
It’s not a proposal, Atlas will be forming a standalone Local. Attached is not a term that describes the process. Atlas will be forming from the onset it’s own Local however access to 1224’s resources will be given to the new Atlas local during it’s inception.
Simply put, Atlas will initially adopt and utilize the existing By-laws of 1224 until such time that By-laws can be written which are specific to the new Local. Once those By-laws have been written they will be voted on by the membership for adoption. Once voted on and accepted they will then replace the temporary By-laws of 1224 which were only utilized for the transition for the duration of as stated of approximately 10-12 months.
Just to make sure I understood, I said "You mean we're going to switch from one local to another once bylaws are complete?" He told me yes. I think it's a little late to be finishing bylaws, the foundation to operation of the local when the NMB election is already underway.
To be clear there is no switching from one local to another, the transition is simply a parallel formation of a Local using the resources of another.
I asked about the state of ABX's local, and how they were going to dedicate resources to us when many of their own pilots are facing furlough. He said that 1224 had designated roughly $4 million for a major contingency fund, however, noting that he requested none be earmarked for atlas. So this line of discussion makes me question the solvency of the local if the vast majority of members are to be unemployed. After some to-and-fro about the amount of membership to be left, and the amount of money, he really provided no real guidance on how this soon to be bankrupt local could help in the process.
First off let’s be clear, ABX Local 1224 will not be Bankrupt, not even close. 1224 has several contingency funds in place that allow nearly a decade’s worth of funding to remain even after a complete shut-down, again they are completely funded and running in the black.
Atlas will utilize the staff and attorneys on (staff and on retainer) to provide the initial structure necessary to build and set the Atlas Local in motion. Even if ABX completely shuts down, which based on the latest information is not going to be the case; the ABX Local can remain fully functional for over 9 years even if the entire dues stream stops. If they continue as planned they will remain in the black without having to tap any of their contingency funds. It’s worth noting that they have enough money working for them that interest alone can pay for the staff indefinitely… This is key difference that an IBT local retains their cash resources and can utilize them as they see fit. The money is theirs and they can put it to work as they require.
Atlas will during the first 10-12 months be able to bank nearly all of the dues money taken in. This will allow Atlas to amass sufficient funds to establish multiple funds that can go to work for our Local.
The Local’s resources do not pay for unemployment benefits as you seem to insinuate. If the Local decides to pay for continued Aeromedical coverage this is very inexpensive and amounts to less than $2000 per year for the entire crew force. Life insurance and loss of license coverage as with any union remains the responsibility of the individual crewmember.
Addressing personal health issues, Mr. Allen indicated that the service would not, in fact, be the Denver-based service provider that ALPA provides. It would be a function of Harvey Watts (not quite sure what that is). So appearantly the claim of using the same contract service provided by ALPA is false.
First off, nothing false was ever stated. The Aeromedical provider is simply a contract service and ALPA quite frankly cannot prevent Atlas from contracting with them for services. ALPA loves the fear mongering as if their over-priced plan is the only game in town, IT'S NOT.
Link to those who contract with them for services: http://aviationmedicine.com/content/index.cfm?fuseaction=showContent&contentID=150&navID=150
After reviewing all the information the provider under Harvey-Watt provides the same and in the opinion of outside medical counsel a “higher” level of coverage at a lower price per crewmember. Cost is/was never a consideration in who the provider would be if anything there was deliberation on justifying the higher cost coverage despite certain shortcomings in the coverage’s and medical affiliations. If you need specifics please refer to the www.astlasforteamsters.com website where all documentation is available for reference.
I threw out the scenario that there is an incident in a banana republic in some far corner of the planet and I'm incarcerated. I asked what was the plan in that instance. He told me that they would hire a LOCAL lawyer to get you out of jail, then send a go team in a COUPLE of days.
In the event of an incident or accident, Teamsters launches a “Go-Team” immediately. Typical of any union this takes between 6-12 hours to launch. In the case of the recent accident at Kalitta, a “Go-Team” was in place (on-site) in 12 hours. The “Go-Team” includes various accident investigation personal, Legal team (US and International Attorney’s) to insure all crewmembers are represented.
During the first 24 hours, outside Engineering firms are organized to provide professional assistance directly to the “Go-Team” on site. These firms provide resources that even ALPA has to contract out to for certain areas of expertise.
These firms remain in force throughout the entire investigation and represent the exclusive interests of the crewmembers and Local until all facts are finalized by the NTSB or other organization overseeing the investigation.
Currently if you have an accident with ALPA, they contact a Pilot group and put together “Pilot volunteers” and they offer assistance to the group. When Atlas had its runway incident ALPA/IFALPA never showed up on site to assist the crew…
I asked where the legal help would come from.
Teamsters has an international network of attorney’s on retainer thru multiple networks. These same networks are utilized by the ATA and other aviation organizations. The legal firms in these networks practice law in specific regions and will provide at no cost to the crewmembers counsel during the course of any investigation to fruition. You can be assured that you will have the same level of legal counsel that the Company and manufacturers will have even if it involves criminal action as is often the case (Brazil)…
He said from his lawyer. I asked how we knew if this guy was any good. He told me he had worked with this lawyer on the atlasforteamsters project and he's a "good one". (Yes, I have the same dumbfounded look you think I'd have at this point). Even the other atlas crewmember in attendance chuckled and made a remark "that's like saying congressmen suck, except MY congressman".
The Attorney that has been working with the Atlas For Teamsters group has proven to be an invaluable resource. The fact is Atlas For Teamsters has had the benefit of 24/7 contactibility with them for all legal needs. The legal advice has time and again proven to exceed ANY that has been received from ALPA on ever count. Once again the difference is they work for us not IBT, not ALPA or any other organization. They work exclusively for us and represent our interests alone.
One thing crewmembers need to be clear about is that ALPA legal works for ALPA and has a direct responsibility to “The Association” NOT the crewmember! Under IBT the Attorney staff is directly responsible to YOU the crewmember, they work for you not some “association”…
At that point I had to excuse myself, as I had to go to the schoolhouse.
I tried not to truncate Mr. Allen's answers, and recollect them as completely as I could. Although I may have left out some small talk, I included everything materially relavent to the discussion.
However, his answers fell short, of what I felt, should be any level of detail or completeness that an issue as serious as changing unions demand. There seems to be a serious shortfall of details and procedures this far into the process. If the IBT is elected, the level of disorganization and incompleteness within the proposed organization as represented by Mr. Allen is even further from a basic functioning structure than I even imagined reading their propaganda.
All in all, this reaffirmed my ALPA vote.
A Vote for ALPA may as well be a vote for “No-Representation”
DBW