Anytime you have two groups with strongly held beliefs, there will be debate and rancor. Bringing facts to bear to counter rumor and innuendo is never bad as long as they are verifiable.
What is important is the message to both groups sent last week:
Dear Crewmembers,
This is a Special Message from the Transitional Executive Council (TEC) and your Negotiating Committee. Your Union representatives were in Washington, DC for bargaining August 30, 2010 through September 2, 2010. We did not reach a tentative agreement; therefore, we are now preparing to submit all unresolved issues to the arbitrator for a final and binding resolution beginning October 19, 2010.
Your Union does not fear arbitration. From the beginning, we have said that we will enter into tentative agreements with management when we believe that what management is offering is as good or better than what is achievable through arbitration. If we believe we can get a better result through arbitration, we will not hesitate to reject management’s proposals in favor of litigating our dispute. We remain willing to negotiate, but we will arbitrate to protect the interests of Crewmembers and their families.
Benjamin Franklin said it best when he wrote, “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.” Your Union leadership is speaking to you with a powerful and unified voice. Now is the time for Atlas and Polar Crewmembers to close ranks and unify around the singular goal of securing a CBA that rewards all Crewmembers for making the Company one of the most profitable airlines in the world.
The IBT is the largest and most powerful union in North America. The Teamsters represent employees across every craft and class in the airline industry, as well as hundreds of other industries and occupations. With 1.4 million members and vast resources, the IBT defends members’ rights from the cockpit to the halls of Congress and beyond. Rest assured that the pilot leadership at Atlas and Polar, along with every Crewmember and their families, has the full support of the IBT.
Going forward, we want every Crewmember to play an active role in the Union. Build solidarity and don’t let anyone or anything divide us. If you accept the challenge, you are not only helping your Union, you are helping to secure your own and your family’s future. Stay in touch with your Union leadership. If you have a question about your contract, contact a Union steward. Stand up for your rights and the rights of your fellow Crewmembers at Atlas and Polar. We are all in this together. Support the IBT, Local 1224, TEC and your NC. You can count on us. We know we can count on you.
We will provide additional information and updates in the future.
Fraternally,
Capt. Stephen Richards Capt. Robert Kirchner
Co-Chair, TEC Co-Chair, TEC
Capt. Robert Ulrich Capt. Daniel Wells F/O Paul Kvernplassen
Chair, Negotiating Committee Negotiating Committee Negotiating Committee
Observe this was signed by all parties on both sides. As with all negotiations, there is always more than meets the eye; that's why it is never good to bring out specifics of individual portions of a contract without the whole. Simply because nothing is final until the entire TA is signed.
Leverage begins with unity. Both sides must be part of that process.