IPA/IPF signs with Astraeus this afternoon

[Bof]

The Executive Council of the IPF is delighted to announce, together with Astraeus Ltd. that the IPF will be representing Astraeus pilots in any future negotiations with the Board. This marks a major step for the fledgling pilot union and puts it on the map as providing a true alternative to other pilot unions.

Uniquely the link between the IPF and Astraeus provides that the IPF will be part of the Company's Consultative Group (CCG). This replaces the old trade union-employer “battleground” of local Pilots Company Councils in their negotiations with Management. Within the CCG all issues are discussed in an open forum together with representatives of other groups.

Acceptance of the IPF as the representative body by the both the Astraeus pilots and the Airline is a major step forward for the IPF. The IPF Executive Council expects the CCG model could form the basis of our future relationships with other airlines.

The IPF was formed two and a half years ago as an affordable pilot and flight engineer alternative union. It was born from the Independent Pilots Association (IPA) that was started 13 years ago by unemployed pilots following the break-up of Dan-Air and Air Europe. Although the IPA has achieved much for its members over the years, its constitution has prevented it from providing industrial representation for its members.

The IPA has some 1,800 members, of whom over 300 have already joined the IPF, and membership continues to grow steadily. The IPF has negotiators and facilitators who assist members needing representation at employment disputes and a 24-hour help-line offers legal advice.

[P.Pilcher]

Congratulations everybody. Union representation for all other than our "superior" colleagues at British Airways has clearly come of age. I bet that you are in advanced negociations with other employers as well. Finally the British Airways Line Pilot Association can be left to get on with the job it was originally set up to do! Nigels can afford them.

[Low Cost Eng]

P Pilcher

I suppose your bitterness is born out of the fact you weren't good enough for British Airways.

[White Knight]

lo cost eng - it's also quite possible that not everyone (believe it or not) actually wants to work for BA......... I was there myself (ex CFE) once and just didn't like it.
Good luck to IPA/F.

I must say though that all of the Nigels that I worked with there were all jolly decent people, and for their sake I hope the suits sort out the mess they've been making since the "ailing" era.

[Lou Scannon]

Good to see that IPF are finally out of the closet and representing pilots. If nothing else, they may be able to offer BALPA some competition when pilots are looking for representation.

One word of caution: The pilots that will stand for election with IPF will be the same sort of people who stand with Balpa and the management representatives will have the same constraints as in any other company. Once the honeymoon period is over I suspect that there will be little change in the respective attitudes.

The sad fact is that most airline management will fight to the death to avoid the loss of "the right to manage" and will never do more than pay lip service to legislation or agreements.

It's worth a try though!

[diplomat]

This marks a major step for the fledgling pilot union and puts it on the map as providing a true alternative to other pilot unions.


Or is it just a major step towards division of the profession and playing straight into the hands of management?





Uniquely the link between the IPF and Astraeus provides that the IPF will be part of the Company's Consultative Group (CCG)

Why is this unique?? most BALPA CC's do this.

This replaces the old trade union-employer “battleground” of local Pilots Company Councils in their negotiations with Management. Within the CCG all issues are discussed in an open forum together with representatives of other groups.


Or should it read...This clutters and confuses the old union-employer battleground by lumping all employee groups into the same field, where they can be hearded easily, and played off one another in an open forum?

[Super Stall]

Congratulations P Pilcher. Somebody posts a bit of good news for Astraeus and IPA and as the first person to reply you take the oportunity to make a snide and bitter bash a BA. :hmm:

Get a life. This post has nothing to do with BA

[Colonel Klink]

Well done to Astraeus pilots for signing with the IPF. Obviously there are advantages to both Balpa and the IPF. Balpa is no longer the preserve of the Nigels, the old "British Airways pilots Association" tag went years ago. Just ask the pilots of Virgin Atlantic, Britannia and BA, all who have done well lately with backing by Balpa in recent pay deals. easyJet's progress remains to be seen, but Balpa is giving it 100% and I would not be surprised if it went very well.
The only area where there may be a clear distinction between the two is overseas, Balpa are affiliated with every other pilot Union, and can have their members assisted there as was recently shown in an incident. Remember the Gerona accident where the 757 slid off the runway? Balpa was onto it in minutes.

[sky9]

The effectiveness of IPF will be measured by what it achieves. We all wait and see if the terms and conditions of Astaeus come close to the market leaders. We will see.