Global Helicopter Pilots Association
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gasr:
If you want a bit more security, and you don't think your reps are working to get that for you, then volunteer to work on that aspect of things. The union is really nothing more than the wishes of it's members - unfortunately sometime bad eggs make their wishes more important than the real wishes.
If you want a bit more security, and you don't think your reps are working to get that for you, then volunteer to work on that aspect of things. The union is really nothing more than the wishes of it's members - unfortunately sometime bad eggs make their wishes more important than the real wishes.
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The second set of hearings just concluded in the beginning of December. The Canadian Industrial Relations Board has heard CHC’s second major objection to the GHPA’s application for certification. CHC claims it is not the true employer of its pilots working around the world, yet they are being paid and administratively handled through their office in Richmond, Canada! There are a myriad of other arguments with respect to CHC’s stance and all were argued at the hearings accordingly. The hearings lasted for a total of six days and the results of the hearings are expected to be passed down by the end of February. CHC has vowed to oppose any hearing in favor of the GHPA, as one might expect, and the struggle will continue to the next level in two months time. I hope that this helps.
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Why is Union a five letter word in North America? I have been in a non union and a union company, and ,I can tell you ,that my life certainly is better in the union company. However, even when the union is on the property, the company behaves like a sore loser.Constant union busting, propoganda and efforts to undermine the contract which they signed with the union.After months of bitter negotiations, I might add.
Like everything in this world the truth is somewhere down the middle. Do unions abuse and misuse their power? Absolutely. But can they be a force for good too --definitely.
In the US,everything bad is blamed on the union. Poor management decisions lead airlines and auto companies into bankruptcy. But the situations are, nevertheless, blamed on the unions.And, as Shawn said, like ALPA, helicopter unions need to come of age to participate willingly in safety initiatives with the cordial acceptance of the company. But as long as the helicopter workforce is bitterly divided on this---that will never happen.
Rant over. Thanks for listening.
Alt3.
Like everything in this world the truth is somewhere down the middle. Do unions abuse and misuse their power? Absolutely. But can they be a force for good too --definitely.
In the US,everything bad is blamed on the union. Poor management decisions lead airlines and auto companies into bankruptcy. But the situations are, nevertheless, blamed on the unions.And, as Shawn said, like ALPA, helicopter unions need to come of age to participate willingly in safety initiatives with the cordial acceptance of the company. But as long as the helicopter workforce is bitterly divided on this---that will never happen.
Rant over. Thanks for listening.
Alt3.
Join Date: Dec 2006
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It is somewhat naive of an employer that they fear the collective and controlled bargaining that a unionised workforce enjoys.
Unionisation prevents unfair practices from taking plcae ON BOTH SIDES of the divide. Employees cannot just decide to up sticks and start a bun fight without some agreements in place from the greater union body. This affords the employer a good deal of protection and also the customer, at the end of the line.
Procedures have to be followed and employemnts laws followed by both sides.
Having said all of this, I suspect that CHC position with Globally employed pilots is they can align them to individual contracts in each are of operations that allows CHC to bid for work at local prices. Thus a UK North Sea Pilot probably earns substantially more than his collegues say in Thailand.
On one hand, it is easy to see CHCs point of view, but on the other, the implications for all Heavy helicopter pilots is that if left unchallenged we will at worst case see redeployment of global assests to locations where the profit is greatest, and thus the lot of the local pilots cannot improve.
I have always proferred the argument that the Pilots salary and remuneration package should not be involved in the contract bid calculations, just as the DOC on the machine is fixed, so should pilot overheads be also. (I also include engineers in this concept).
The issue here is whether Global pilots have the stomach for a real fight, because it is clear that if they all take a stance, currently unrestrained by the shackles of a union agreement, CHC would really feel how unpleasant things can get with no union agreement in place.
It comes down in the end to each and every mans price. If you are prepared to carry on working for current packages, no prgress will evr be made.
Unionisation prevents unfair practices from taking plcae ON BOTH SIDES of the divide. Employees cannot just decide to up sticks and start a bun fight without some agreements in place from the greater union body. This affords the employer a good deal of protection and also the customer, at the end of the line.
Procedures have to be followed and employemnts laws followed by both sides.
Having said all of this, I suspect that CHC position with Globally employed pilots is they can align them to individual contracts in each are of operations that allows CHC to bid for work at local prices. Thus a UK North Sea Pilot probably earns substantially more than his collegues say in Thailand.
On one hand, it is easy to see CHCs point of view, but on the other, the implications for all Heavy helicopter pilots is that if left unchallenged we will at worst case see redeployment of global assests to locations where the profit is greatest, and thus the lot of the local pilots cannot improve.
I have always proferred the argument that the Pilots salary and remuneration package should not be involved in the contract bid calculations, just as the DOC on the machine is fixed, so should pilot overheads be also. (I also include engineers in this concept).
The issue here is whether Global pilots have the stomach for a real fight, because it is clear that if they all take a stance, currently unrestrained by the shackles of a union agreement, CHC would really feel how unpleasant things can get with no union agreement in place.
It comes down in the end to each and every mans price. If you are prepared to carry on working for current packages, no prgress will evr be made.
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Having said all of this, I suspect that CHC position with Globally employed pilots is they can align them to individual contracts in each are of operations that allows CHC to bid for work at local prices.
Thus a UK North Sea Pilot probably earns substantially more than his collegues say in Thailand.
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Anyone have any news about the judge's ruling regarding the associations bid to become unionized? Had heard that if judge ruled in favour of the GHPA, then there was a proposal being tabled to unionize.
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The GHPA is still awaiting the CIRB ruling regarding the claim by CHC that they are NOT the true employer. We had hoped that the CIRB would have had their ruling released by the end of February (as the CIRB vice-chair had suggested) but obviously this has not been the case. So all we can do is wait and see.
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Really? - the news page on their website ran out of stories 15 months ago!
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Time to Talk
With the recent decision by the CIRB to 'certify' the GHPA and to allow them to bargain collectively for the CHC Global Operations pilots, 'the time has come to speak of many things'.
Instead of being laughed out of the office, management at CHC will have to realize that we are a professional body and that we need our own representation. There are a lot of unresolved issues that absolutely need to be addressed. I sincerely hope that we get the participation we need and that the contract, already overdue, is not too long in coming.
Instead of being laughed out of the office, management at CHC will have to realize that we are a professional body and that we need our own representation. There are a lot of unresolved issues that absolutely need to be addressed. I sincerely hope that we get the participation we need and that the contract, already overdue, is not too long in coming.
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Congats
Sounds like really good news.
The Union was organised at my company over ten years ago and it has been very positive for us in every aspect. Lots of hard work but now you can have a future.
Best wishes.
The Union was organised at my company over ten years ago and it has been very positive for us in every aspect. Lots of hard work but now you can have a future.
Best wishes.
Join Date: Nov 2000
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GHPA is certified!
The CIRB has released Order # 9674-U dated June 30th 2009, but I can't find it on their site yet, it should be posted shortly perhaps?
The heart of the matter:
NOW, THEREFORE, it is ordered by the Canadian Industrial Relations Board that the Global Helicopter Pilots Association be, and is hereby certified to be the bargaining agent for a unit comprising:
"all pilots employed by CHC Global Operations (2008) Inc. excluding full time managers, pilots whose primary duty is non-flying base manager and foreign national pilots employed by CHC partner companies."
Reference file No. 26066-C
The heart of the matter:
NOW, THEREFORE, it is ordered by the Canadian Industrial Relations Board that the Global Helicopter Pilots Association be, and is hereby certified to be the bargaining agent for a unit comprising:
"all pilots employed by CHC Global Operations (2008) Inc. excluding full time managers, pilots whose primary duty is non-flying base manager and foreign national pilots employed by CHC partner companies."
Reference file No. 26066-C
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It amazes me when I read the posts on Vertical Magazine regarding the GHPA being certified versus the posts on this site. It seems that there are fewer people excited about the prospect of the GHPA being certified and working together with CHC on the Vertical Magazine forum.
In fact, there are even a few predicting the demise of CHC as a result of this decision. Do these individuals know something the rest of us don’t?
Chc Global Helicopter Pilots Unionize - Vertical Online Forums
In fact, there are even a few predicting the demise of CHC as a result of this decision. Do these individuals know something the rest of us don’t?
Chc Global Helicopter Pilots Unionize - Vertical Online Forums
Last edited by BOOMER1; 5th Jul 2009 at 08:18.
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Brighter future for all
Thanks "Northseaspray".
I agree with your statement. All helicopter pilots will benefit from this, regardless of where they are.
The helo community is a very small one, especially offshore, therefore better working conditions for a large group of pilots like CHC GO will only improve the overall conditions for all of us.
I agree with your statement. All helicopter pilots will benefit from this, regardless of where they are.
The helo community is a very small one, especially offshore, therefore better working conditions for a large group of pilots like CHC GO will only improve the overall conditions for all of us.
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Now that CHC Global pilots have a association, what is there to stop CHC Global from letting all the CHC Global employed pilots go and hire them contract from a offshore hiring agency??
Much the same way Schriener hired there crews ( expat pilot/engineers) that worked in Nigeria?
Much the same way Schriener hired there crews ( expat pilot/engineers) that worked in Nigeria?
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what is there to stop CHC Global from letting all the CHC Global employed pilots go
Second, we are now a union, so the union would tell all the members not to join the offshore hiring agency. Where would that leave CHC?
No, CHC GO will just have to deal with the union in good faith as CHC Australia, Scotia and Norway does.
This is not a war, we all recognize that CHC GO must be profitable to be viable and it must be viable to provide our jobs. Above all we are looking for fair and equitable treatment.
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Union Friendly CHC?
What sort of company is CHC? Are they 'union friendly' as their lawyer suggested in his closing statement during the last hearings (to determine if CHC is the True Employer)?
We now have less than 2 weeks before the deadline for an appeal with the CIRB. Then there is a separate appeal process through the Canadian Federal Court of Appeals. Will they file both appeals? Will they forget about appealing to the CIRB and appeal directly to the Federal Courts? Do not be surprised that CHC will appeal this for as long as they possibly can. Do not be surprised when CHC asks for a 'stay' in proceedings while the appeals are being processed. We already know (from unofficial sources) that the fight is not over yet. The GHPA has won 3 important battles (all of them so far) and we believe we are right. The CIRB believes we are right and went so far as to declare the GHPA as the collective bargaining agent for the helicopter pilots employed by CHC Global Operations.
Let's see where 'union friendly' CHC GO goes with this. I do not foresee any surprises on this and I fully expect we will be returning to the courts to substantiate our case. When the time comes to sit down and bargain, let's see what goodwill remains. It is time for CHC to rethink their stance on this. The pilots only want representation and a voice when addressing management. Nothing more. We are a viable group of professionals with concerns similar to other professional groups such as airline pilots, doctors, lawyers etc.. We are doing the same work as our brothers in Europe and Australia and yet, we are denied (by CHC) the same rights of organisation.
We now have less than 2 weeks before the deadline for an appeal with the CIRB. Then there is a separate appeal process through the Canadian Federal Court of Appeals. Will they file both appeals? Will they forget about appealing to the CIRB and appeal directly to the Federal Courts? Do not be surprised that CHC will appeal this for as long as they possibly can. Do not be surprised when CHC asks for a 'stay' in proceedings while the appeals are being processed. We already know (from unofficial sources) that the fight is not over yet. The GHPA has won 3 important battles (all of them so far) and we believe we are right. The CIRB believes we are right and went so far as to declare the GHPA as the collective bargaining agent for the helicopter pilots employed by CHC Global Operations.
Let's see where 'union friendly' CHC GO goes with this. I do not foresee any surprises on this and I fully expect we will be returning to the courts to substantiate our case. When the time comes to sit down and bargain, let's see what goodwill remains. It is time for CHC to rethink their stance on this. The pilots only want representation and a voice when addressing management. Nothing more. We are a viable group of professionals with concerns similar to other professional groups such as airline pilots, doctors, lawyers etc.. We are doing the same work as our brothers in Europe and Australia and yet, we are denied (by CHC) the same rights of organisation.