ATLAS 'T STRIKE!
 

Release #01.47
May 21, 2001


Strike Authorization Ballot Mailed to Atlas ALPA Pilots

WASHINGTON, DC -- The elected leaders of the Atlas Air pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) today announced the mailing of a strike-authorization ballot to their members.

“From the beginning of negotiations last April, we have been committed to reaching a successful conclusion of these negotiations without a strike. We remain committed to that goal and continue to be optimistic that it can be accomplished,” said Captain Gregory Amussen, chairman of the Atlas pilots' unit in ALPA.

“However, the affirmative result that we anticipate receiving in this strike-authorization ballot will give us additional leverage and flexibility as we pursue our objectives,” he said.

“The recent furlough of Atlas pilots in the U.S. – and the continued operation of the airlines foreign subsidiary in Stansted, England, using foreign crewmembers junior to most of the furloughed American crewmembers - raise additional concerns, making our work to expedite a negotiated agreement even more important. We intend to address these issues quickly and fully. Only a labor agreement can offer the stability and assurances that the pilots need in the face of these corporate developments,” Amussen said.

“Toward that end, we have petitioned both the NMB and Atlas management to schedule more meeting time in June so the parties may conclude these discussions, reach a settlement, and move on with the important task of building a strong and competitive international cargo company -- one that provides secure and rewarding careers for our members,” Amussen said. “Unfortunately, to date Atlas management has refused to schedule additional meeting time,” he said.

Amussen concluded, “Our decision to seek a strike authorization at this time not only responds to the groundswell of advocacy coming from our members, but also serves as an additional step that is both consistent and supportive of our goals.”

The National Mediation Board assigned a federal mediator to the contract negotiations in September 2000. The pilot group at Atlas has been in negotiations for a first contract since April 2000.

Atlas is the world’s third-largest cargo carrier and the world’s largest operator of Boeing 747 freighters. Last year the airline received the distinction of being ranked the world’s most financially fit carrier. Atlas' pilots and flight engineers are represented by the ALPA, the world’s oldest and largest pilots union. ALPA represents more than 59,000 pilots at 49 airlines in the U.S. and Canada.

Go get em tiger !

Reminds me of the time, many years ago in MIA, when the pilots of National Airlines went on strike in the summer (low season at that time for Florida) and saved good 'ole Bud Maytag a lot of grief. Of course, after awhile, the crew had families to feed so went back to work, just in time for the winter high season. ALPA scheduling at its best.
Now is a thin time for air cargo and what do the ATLAS pilots do? ......You get the picture.

411A
Just wondering...did your mother drop you on your head when you were a child, or is your constant negativity genetic? Perhaps you need to get out of the sun once in a while.

[This message has been edited by Beaver Driver (edited 23 May 2001).]

BeaverDriver--
Seriously now, would it not be better to attck ATLAS management when the aircargo market is booming rather than now? Seems to me that you'all would be in a much better position. One thing for sure, the ATLAS pilots do need a pay raise,considering the recent ATLAS profits.
'Ole Bud Maytag at National played ALPA like a Stradavareous for many years, I don't think they EVER realised.
And, look at the fiasco at Comair, but that is another story.

Let me get this straight. Contracts are being cancelled left, right and centre; cargo airlines (eg CargoLion) are going bust, and others are laying off staff (eg Polar, Atlas, etc).

And now the flight deck guys want to go on strike???

Is an IQ of less than room temperature a requisite for employment with Atlas Air - if not, it sure as heck seems like it!!

You lot should keep your heads down at a time like this, and not indulge in remarkably foolish and short term antics. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Let them walk, Guv...just more jobs for everyone else...

And I don´t mean crossing any line, I mean more flying for the other carriers....

You guys are so uninformed that you really are embarrassing yourselves. I can't believe that you actually think that Atlas Air is doing poorly.

Let's see.... Record profits for the 1st quarter, worlds most financially fit airline. Our profit margins are upwards of around 25% consistently quarter after quarter. UPS, and FedEx don't even touch the double digits with their profits. Third and Fourth quarter block hours are sold out.

They furlough out of seniority! All the AACS guys are still working, not one of them were furloughed. They use the 105 guys that are furloughed as a bargaining chip at the negotiating table. They tried to negotiated them away, for concessions in the contract, and you can bet your life that they will try to negotiate them back. They get something for nothing. Classic negotiation tactics!

You are very wrong about our timing! Atlas couldn't be stronger! We couldn't have timed it better. If we wait any longer, our jobs will all be moved off shore and there wont be anything to come back to. Then what would it matter?

Now is the time, and it's a perfect time. Don't get me wrong, I don't want it to come to this, none of us do, all we want is a fair and secure labor agreement. One that makes someone else besides the crews accountable, and one that rewards all of our hard work and effort that has made Atlas Air what it is today! THE WORLDS MOST FINANCIALLY FIT AIRLINE.

Let's see, I don't see anyone bashing Delta or UAL for doing what we are doing, and they are some of the highest paid pilots in the world, Why is it that the Atlas Pilots, some of the lowest paid pilots in the world, are taking heat for exercising our rights?

This company isn't sick or hurting, it's alive and well! They can't afford to let it go to a strike, that's why our timing couldn't be better!

British Atlas

caught in a trans-Atlantic dispute over air cargo services, Atlas Air believes it has solved the problem by becoming a British carrier, once removed.

The 747 freighter leasing specialist helped launch a new United Kingdom-based cargo airline, an operator whose only aircraft would be those provided by Atlas and whose only existing customer would also be provided by Atlas. And although the airline's name - Global Supply Systems, Ltd., lacks beauty, Atlas sees the company as an artful way to get around attempts to bar Atlas from providing freighters to British Airways.

"We believe this is a necessary step in light of changes that are being contemplated in the regulatory environment in the United Kingdom," said Vicki Foster, a spokesperson for New York-based Atlas.

British charter and leasing cargo airlines have been seeking government bars against Atlas service for BA because they say they are not allowed similar rights in the United States under U.S. law. They are already promising to challenge the Atlas maneuver. "Ownership is one thing, control is another," said a British cargo executive who asked to not be identified.

Atlas says it will own 49 percent of the startup, with British entrepreneur John Porter - part of the family that owns the U.K.'s Tesco grocery stores - holding 51 percent. Atlas will provide him the same two 747-400s it now flies for BA and that business will fall to the GSS business. That means the only real challenge in Porter's first venture into the airline business will certainly come in the world of regulations and international air trade relations.


Doesn't look to good for GSS either! Looks like the British Gov. is on to Atlas's Shell Game.

[This message has been edited by HEAVYWHALE (edited 23 May 2001).]

The ways of the negaciators in these affairs sometimes seem incomprehensible/unpredictable (I refer to a former foreign minister being appointed arbitrator in the VC/Lufthansa dispute) but surely they have thought of what they are doing, and about the timing as well!
Times will never be perfect for asking a payrise... anyway, may you guys succeed!

All the best from Germany!

You are also dealing with the NRLB, a creaking, ancient organization that steers like a supertanker. You still have to get your strike vote counted, go into mediated talks, get a crap proposal from your mediator a la Comair (and ASA), vote it down decisively, then go back to the table, etc.... I predict a cooling off period right in the "sweet spot" of Oct-Dec.

Best of luck and the rest of the ACMI world is rooting for you!

Don't y'all just love it when Beaver and Heavywhale get so fired up about Atlas topics? They are so intense, so...so united - so informed! Thanks guys - keep it up - you remind me of my schooldays.

Huck
Thanks for the words of encouragement. You may be right about the NMB. However the mediator assigned to us has, at times, been VERY pissed off at Atlas' predatory and illegal antics towards its pilot group, so we hope to get a release soon.

The time could actually not be better. GSS is not yet up and running and may not get off the ground. AACS is a huge failure and a very big money drain on Atlas, and there is still the court case pending on it. The UK DETR will not renew the BA lease and the 15 Atlas guys that are left in AACS that bid over there will soon lose their right to work in the UK. And, as you state, we are coming in to the 4th quarter.

The Atlas pilots all share the same goals; We want Atlas to be the best freight operator it can be. Atlas managers do not share this goal, in fact all they want is to line their pockets. This can easily be seen by investigating the salary they are paid (public info). Not one of them took even a 1% pay cut. They did however, find it very easy to cut 105 pilot jobs in a quarter when Atlas earned 20% profit. Most airliines would kill for a profit margin like that. How can management claim that Atlas is in trouble and still continue to pay themselves multi-million dollar salaries.

Mr. Chowdry would never have allowed his company to get into this situation in the first place. It is a sorry indictment of the Lorenzo trained clones that currently run Atlas. Their lack of business acumen is very evident to the pilots, to the customers, to the mediator, and to the rest of the world. (maybe even to you Kep....if you had a clue what the discussion is about....or maybe you are one of the AACS that is going to lose his job soon, something that all of us warned you about many months ago)



[This message has been edited by Beaver Driver (edited 24 May 2001).]

Huck:

Minor detail... US airlines are subject to the NMB (National Mediation Board), not the NLRB (National Labor Realtions Board).

Not a real good idea boys and girls, the timing coulddn't be worse..right idea, wrong time like the edsel and the electra...timing is everything in this game...give it some hard thought

I heard a rumor that Atlas is considering selling 15 747-200 and two MX hangers in MIA to UPS. It was on some business wire. Any truth to this?

I searched over a dozen aviation related sites and found nothing about Atlas and UPS. It wouldn't suprise me though.With the current level of bitterness between Atlas management and their crews, nothing would suprise me.

Atlas actually owns no hangers here in MIA that I know of. They are currently constructing one that can be seen on the corner of 36 ave and Lejune (or close to that intersection) but other than the operations spaces (which they lease), and the training center (which, I believe they also lease), I don't think they own any property in MIA.

There are still very rampant rumors of them buying twins, and maybe selling some 74's to do that, but who knows. Management seems to be a master at keeping their cards close to thier chest, as evidenced by the Volga Denieper announcement earlier this week. Can you say AACS Moscow!!! Long live GSS/AACS ....NOT!!!

Remember the 105!!!

[This message has been edited by Beaver Driver (edited 26 May 2001).]

This would never happen if STREAMLINE was Chief Pilot!

Mapshift,

Just did a leg out here in the pac-rim with an AACS co-pilot deadheading in the back about to START HER IOE a WEEK after 107 of my co-workers, some with 5 years with this company were given the boot,
now you tell me when the right effin' time to do this is!!!....GRRRR.

Over and out.

[This message has been edited by LimeyAK (edited 29 May 2001).]