The IBT Wall of Shame
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Due to the outrageous behavior of the Teamster's Airline Organization in regards to KHA's organizing effort, we feel that they deserve their own little piece of realestate on the Web. Read on....
IPA (UPS) Website
Parsed version of VP Smith's letter
KPA's fax to the IBT
Response to Pizzaman's letter
Keepin the Brutha Down
Letter to AFL-CIO From KPA
Handwritten Fax cover from Don Triechler
03-03: Leak From Abex Re: FPA
Oh god! Hey guys before you get the "teamster hard-on" please feel
free to
contact any pilot at Airborne Express regarding the great Teamster support!
It's laughable, just ask the many pilots who needed medical expertise to
retain their tickets-----------none. Teamsters are good at one thing,
filling their pockets. Our dues at Airborne are 2.5% and rising. I figure with
the Teamsters representing a pilot , you stand a 1 in 5 chance of getting
fired. Consider carefully!
Don't know where this came from. No surprise.
07-19: EJA Pilots Nix Local747
It has come to our attention that the Executive Jet Pilots have overwhelmingly voted down joining the local 747. They have remained with their present group, another separate local. More info to follow. The word is out.
07-10: Wow
Have you seen this on AIA's website?
Mike
SEE IF I GOT THIS RIGHT
Conrad Kalitta buys American International Airways approxiately 12 years ago.
After some Multi Million bucks, he expands, and starts flying every heavy piece of iron he owns or leases under the banner, AIA.
$$$Money is flowing, and crews are humping$$$!!!
Crews start to get disatisfied, due to "fly it or get fired"!!!!
Days off are not honored!!!!
Next thing, crews organize, and vote Union.
Afterall, Mr. Kalitta wants his share of the profits, and the crews should be so lucky to have a job!!!!!
Union is voted in, and Mr. Kalitta makes statements that seem to follow history.
Kitty Hawk, runned by Tom Christopher, who is and has been a loyal friend of Mr. Kalitta's for some time, arrives at the most opportune time in AIA's History, to rescuse AIA from bankruptcy, by putting together a package to purchase AIA, so that AIA won't file bankruptcy, and Mr. Kalitta will still be a part of the deal!!!!!
When the smoke had cleared, people where talking about how great things looked for the future. Wasn't it strange that AIA was kept a seperate identidity from KHA?????????????
Oh well, just sour grapes.
Well, it seems that KHA decided within a short number of days(April) that things weren't going the way they planned, so they Shut Down KHI real quick!!!!!!!!
That KHI being their ticket to heavy Iron flying, being Deep Six didn't matter!!!!
NOW, out of the clear blue sky, Mr. Kalitta has offered to buy KHI's Certificate, if the Teamsters make concessions.
The Teamsters and their "so called Pizza man" are hoping for the best.
NOW YOU KNOW WHY LIBERALS FIGHT THE DEATH PENALTY!!!! NOT BECAUSE HE MIGHT BE GUILTY, HE PROBABLY IS, BUT BECAUSE STRANGER THINGS DO HAPPEN, AND WHEN YOU YOU LEARN THE TRUTH LATER IN YOUR LIFE IT REALLY WAKES YOU UP!!!!!!!!!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS IS IN ORDER FOR MR. KALITTA!!!!!
TIME WAS NO FACTOR FOR HIM.
HE LAUNCHED A BATTLE TO DESTROY, YES DESTROY, AND IN THE END HE WON.
YOU LOST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ONLY PROBLEM WILL BE FAA WILL BE WISER, AND SO WILL OTHERS WHO SAW IT 3 YEARS AGO.
SMOOTH SAILING CONNIE!!!!!!
IF THIS WAS A NOVEL FORCED UPON SOME EDITOR, HE WOULD GIVE IT THE THUMBS DOWN IN A HEART BEAT!
UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF YOUS ARE LIVING IT!!!!!!!!
MUST SAY, WHEN I HEARD WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN 1997, I WAS APPALLED WITH DISBELIEF. JUST DIDN'T THINK IT COULD HAPPEN.
NOW YOU KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fellow Crewmembers,
It is what it is and nothing else. It is a seperate deal made exclusively for Connie or another
buyer. KH will get none of the benifits of any of the concessions, not that it matters because they
have told the Judge under oath that KHI will not fly again under their flag.
I know what Tree would say to the accusations that I've given away the store. But that's Tree,
not Me. If you guys think I gave away any of my claims then ...........and the horse you rode in on.
The concessions are for a new company only. Everything else is still at KH in Court so spend
your time filling out your claims and getting them in. I'd loose just as much or more than most of
you. Just how dumb do you think I am!!??
You want your money!!!and don't like the way the IBT's representing you!!!then I'll pull the IBT off
and you can go at it yourselves.
I wont even be recalled in this deal if it goes. I'm giving up time from my job search to see if we
can get a few jobs. I'm really disappointed at some of the names I've seen signed to some of the
most critical posts. I thought you knew me better than that.
To those who dont sign: ##### you!
Pizzaman
Arrow Points away from the IBT
Captain Pedro Duff from the Arrow Pilots Association requests the
following assistance from the pilots of Kittyhawk.
They would like all crew members who would like to voice their opinions on
the IBT Local 747 to call him at 305-380-6083.
Additionally he would like to have a copy of the threatening IBT phone
message that went out to many of our pilots as well.
Due to the recent merger between Fine Air and Arrow, the IBT wants to
represent the combined airline where before they only represented FineAir.
This is a chance for our crewmembers to return the favor that IBT gave
us.
Trust Management?
Fellow crewmembers, I have been following your vote processes for a
union
and am sorry to hear about Mr. Triechler, the IBT and their efforts to
hinder your process. On the other hand as a former KHI employee I can
tell
you that you CANNOT trust anything management tells you. Just take a
look
at what they are doing to us. Forget about all the indifferences and
just
look at what should have been paid out. Such as the salaries until the
day
of closing, the perdiem and the AMEX bills. We are not going to get our
pay
nor our perdiem and those who had AMEX cards are stuck with the bill.
This
is only the tip of the iceberg. I am telling you this because prior to
the
shut down (on Thursday I called and asked if we were shutting down and
was
told unequivocally NO. Then the next day on Friday they announced the
shut
down. We were then told that our last paycheck would be paid on the 5th.
then that was changed to the 14th and finally we were told we are not
getting paid.
The bottom line, take another vote if you have to but do not go in
house.
The IBT with all its faults, is still better than the alternative. At
least
we have lawyers fighting our cause which gives me a ray of hope to get
my
salary paid. If we were an in house union we would not have had a leg to
stand on nor the money to fight back.
Good Luck
Louie
Luis,
Thank you for your post. However, I must say that if you think that we as a pilot group will have ANYTHING to do with the IBT at this point, you are wrong. We have been held hostage by the IBT for over two years now, at a time when we need representation most! The actions of the IBT towards the KHA pilots has been agregeous at best! I think that I can speak for my brethren and sistren by saying that the IBT can fall from a high mountain peak.
Your Brutha in Flight,
Mohafta
06-08: Take Your Ball and Go Home
I will make this short,
I do not understand why the IBT refuses the KHA pilot group to be
represented by the organization of our choice. It appears that your
perception of article 21 interference (of which there was none) gives you
the right to "take your ball and go home" so nobody else can play. If all
your letters touting the benefits of organization are true, and that all
you ever wanted was for us to be organized by someone, Then why not let us
have the organization of our choice?
The facts are that the IBT received
1
vote.For all your efforts I would think that a pretty expensive vote. The
point I am making is that the KHA pilot group never wanted the IBT and
after your performance of late NEVER WILL! So why not give up the school
yard antics remove your article 21 complaint and let us get on with our
lives. Regardless of what you think, I never received anything from ALPA
during your organization efforts, on the other hand my mail box was
cluttered with your propaganda continuously. the IBT lost fair and square
GET OVER IT!
Do the right thing
Ron Sutherland
Captain 727
06-02: IBT Petitions to Release us From One Year Bar
To the KHA crewmembers:(A response from a KHA Crewmember follows...
On June 1, 2000, the NMB ruled that the KHA crewmembers would not have a
one
year bar imposed on them insofar as another election is concerned. The
Director of the Airline Division of the IBT, Ray Benning, requested that
the
all bars imposed by the NMB be removed in the KHA case. In view of the
involvement of ALPA, at KHA and elsewhere, and the AFL-CIO's ruling that
ALPA
is barred for a year from representing your group, the NMB ruling permits
you
to collect cards, file for an election, and elect a representative at any
time you may choose, so long as that is not ALPA. The IBT will not
participate in such election, if you decide to pursue one. We wish you
well
in any such endeavor.
Don Treichler
Response
Well, it seems to me that at least part of our representation problem
has been solved. Since ALPA was barred from representing our group, and
the
IBT has so graciously bowed out, it seems to me that the KPA has won by a
landslide. Or by default, depends on how you look at it I guess. By a 4 to
1
margin, the KPA routed the IBT in a hotly contested election to represent
the
Pilots of Kitty Hawk Air Cargo. Never in recorded history has there been
such an overwhelming defeat against such against such enormous odds.
(Unless
of course you count 304 to 1) All 4 of you who voted for the KPA, I want
to
thank you from the bottom of my shriveled little heart for having the
foresight to vote for what is in the near future to be our union of
choice.
Do we really need another election? I think not. A 75% to 25% victory is
definitely a mandate for what the pilots at Kitty Hawk wanted. I also want
to
thank Capt. Treichler for his magnanimous gesture (throwing in the towel
after his butt had been so handily kicked) and his undying efforts in
support
of the KPA (the letters and phone calls really helped). We couldn't have
done
it without you Don. Now is the time for all of us Freight Dogs to band
together behind the KPA banner and unite.
But seriously folks, I think this may be a way to come out of this
mess
represented, and organized. Just remember, a union is only as strong as
it's
pilot group. With the right leadership and support from within, the
KPA=Pilots
of Kitty Hawk, can help this place live up to the potential that it has
to
be a great place to come to work.
Thanks Mo for all your effort, keep up the good work.Ed note: Powah to 'da people....
The Fr8Dawg
05-04: Express One Capt on the Teamsters
From: Ptazz@aol.com
Date sent: Thu, 4 May 2000 09:53:58 EDT
Subject: Teamsters
To: thebark@thebark.org
Hi
My name is Pete Bitzker, I am a 727 Captain at Express One International.
I
have been reading your comments, as concerns the Teamster. EOI had a vote
2
1/2 years ago, and voted the IBT in. Since then, our old owners have been
keeping the IBT tied up in court. Further, our attrition rate has been so
high, that out of the 300 pilots now employed, only about 100 were here
for
the original vote.
We have recently formed the Express One Crewmembers Association, in an
attempt to get a new vote, and hopefully dispatch the Teamsters to
where-ever
it is they belong.
As you have allready earned the T shirt, and been dragged backwards
through
this shit allready, we would sincerely appreciate any comments you would
like
to place on our comments board.www.eoiforum.homestead.com
I thank you.
Pete
04-28:
Dear Mr. Treichler
Sir I do appreciate your honesty and your candor in your response to my
letter. I must ask of you "how has ALPA violated the AFL-CIO constitution> during the recent drive by our own KPA ?" Also you responded to the
following statement from my previous correspondence
1..........we vote in ALPA as a write in candidate (never mind that this
proves once and for all that they are our Representation of choice) but
you
are successful in your PROTEST against ALPA..... Result: we are left
without
representation because of your actions
by stating that "ALPA has time and again violated the AFL-CIO
constitution"
......so does this mean because of the way you feel about ALPA you have
filed against them when they had nothing to do with the current drive ?
Mr.
Treichler.....only we suffer because of this action. maybe I am missing
something here and honestly I do want to understand the current
situation.
My confusion admittedly stems from your filing against ALPA as it relates
to
the current drive. It appears in order to settle a score you have no
qualms
about leaving us unrepresented ?????..... Does this seem like fair play to
you ???? ...........Your actions could potentially leave us without
representation and this doesn't seem to bother you at all. !!!! As far
as
I see you have interfered with our vote and Mr. Treichler that is not fair
play by any stretch of the imagination. I did not ask much of you when I
asked for you to allow our vote to go unencumbered by any outside
hindrances
and delaying actions....this drive is not an ALPA drive but a KPA drive
funded by those brave members of the UOC who I must add once again did so
at
great risk to their own careers.
In response to your stating "why do I criticize the IBT ".......rest
assured
my intent is not to do that. I simply wish to understand the logic behind
filing against ALPA when this is a KPA drive.
Also you mention the seniority integration language that KHI has in place
and you ask of me "Would I be equally as understanding as the KHI
crewmembers were" in reference to any mergers. In response to that I must
once again re-emphasize my feelings by saying that my honest feeling is
that
we all prosper. and I wish only the best for the KHI
crewmembers.........this is not about those fine folks but about the IBT's
recent actions.....that said ....KHI language was written to protect KHI
(as
all good contract language should) not anyone else. And comparing ALPA
merger language to this case is like comparing apples and oranges. We are
not being bullied by an ALPA carrier that could potentially win a single
carrier petition.!!!!! KHI's contract was not written with our best
interest in mind (and shouldn't be). Its purpose is to protect KHI pilots.
In summary,
What is the purpose of an injunction against ALPA when this is a KPA drive
?
What is your response to the fact that we could be left without
representation if your protest against ALPA is successful ?
What have you gained by this protest?
Why would you want to delay the vote (if in fact you do) ?
Once again, I do appreciate you responding to my questions and thoughts
and
I do thank you for clearing up my deficiencies as it relates to the
Railway
labor act. I can assure you of one thing.....I will keep an open mind
regarding this matter......I do not condone any acts that could be
construed
as violations of the AFL-CIO constitution and if you have proof that
somehow
there has been foulplay committed by anyone, then sir you should bring
that
forward so that we may make a better informed decision in these very
important days remaining.
Sincerely,
M.Doran
Response
Dear M. Doran:
I will be brief on the points you raised. Filings against ALPA do not
have
as a purpose to deprive you of representation. You can achieve
representation by voting for KPA, the Teamsters, or someone other than
ALPA.
The AFL-CIO filings have to do with ALPA violations of that
Constitution.
That is a separate matter that is heard at the AFL-CIO and that I will
not
discuss here. Nonetheless, such violations are, in our view,
detrimental
to
the labor movement overall. The risk involved has to do specifically
with
that issue. Beyond that, I believe I answered fully the issues you
raised.
Best rgds,
Don Treichler
4-20-2000
Bark:
I was pleasantly surprised to see Mr. Don Treichler respond to my
Prolific
Rant entitled, P-O'd at the IBT 4-2-00. To quote Mr. Treichler from his
letter dated April 14, 2000, "The authors are entitled to their
opinions.
Nonetheless, I will provide you my comments as well. I intend to follow
the
facts and not engage in false accusations." Did he just call me a liar?
What
the heck, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Here is my rebuttal to
his
rebuttal to my original letter:
Per Diem
Don claims that he does in fact know that our Per Diem is $1.50/hour.
WRONG.
I said $36.00/day. If a KHA pilot leaves his home on Monday afternoon,
he/she is paid $36.00. If you figure a KHA pilots leaves at noon on the
first day and returns home at noon on the last day, a KHA pilot is
making
about $1.80/hour Per Diem when they are away from home. When KHI's Per
Diem
rate finally reaches $1.70 in 2002, a KHA pilot will still be making
more
Per Diem. Of course, we don't have a separate international rate. And
who
cares about World's Per Diem rate. When KHA has had a union for twenty
years, then we'll compare.
Comparison of Polar and World contracts.
In my original letter, I never said Polar had a better contract than
World.
What I did say was that I expected World to have a better contract than
Polar because Polar is on their first contract and World has had a union
for
a VERY LONG TIME. In his rebuttal, he goes on to compare World and Polar
about six times. But what really has me scratching my head is his claim
that
KHI captain pay exceeds Polar's, especially in the early years. Looking
at
the pay rates on the last page of his letter, I see almost every hourly
pay
column at Polar Year 00 to be equal to or higher than KHI year 00. In
addition, they both have the same guarantee of 60 hours. I only have his
pay
table to go by, so I may be wrong...
ALPA and the Teamsters
He claims that the IBT has not threatened ALPA over various crewmember
raids. Then who did? I'd bet money the IBT went to the AFL-CIO and
complained to them about ALPA's "conduct" who then threatened ALPA.
Isn't
that the same as saying the IBT threatened ALPA? Plus, if the
crewmembers
left the IBT or voted in ALPA, was it not because they wanted to? I am
sure
ALPA did not put a gun to their collective heads and force them to vote
in
ALPA. If the IBT can't compete with ALPA, then they should get out of
the
pilot business.
The IBT and the UPS pilots
In his rebuttal, he acknowledges the past mistakes of the IBT. But then
he
asks why I didn't mention FedEx, Continental/Eastern, or American. FedEx
is
a complex issue. Ask a FedEx pilot about the whole ordeal. I would guess
a
few pilots would say it was a mistake to get rid of ALPA. Now his mention
of
Continental leaving ALPA worries me. Continental left ALPA because Frank
Lorenzo declared Chapter 11 and ripped-up the ALPA contract. ALPA went
on
strike and Frank hired a bunch of scabs to replace them. Granted, it was
not
ALPA's finest hour, but they learned from it and successfully prevented
the
same thing from happening at United in 1985. American left ALPA back in
the
1960s. Hardly applicable today. His final mention of Eastern pilots
feeling
that ALPA sold them out is trying to simplify a very complex issue. If
you
weren't there and would like to read about it, buy "Hard Landing" from
Thomas Petzinger. A very good book about deregulation and union
activity.
Finally, the IBT probably managed to convert fence sitters to ALPA's side
by
leaving a "threatening" message on some KHA pilot's answering machines.
I
was one of the lucky ones to get the message and I have to admit that I
was
pretty pissed off when I heard it. Oh yeah, the follow-up letter was a
nice
touch. It seems to me that the IBT's actions should be considered vote
tampering. Probably isn't, but should be. So how can I vote for a union
that
sends me letters full of half-truths and then when it feels like it's
losing, threatens everyone else to get their way? Isn't that the
definition
of a bully? Vote overwhelmingly for ALPA, and call the Teamster's bluff
to
void your god given right to representation.
Fraternally,
KHA B727
- 04-21:
Called at Home
For those of you who have not received it yet,you probably will. What is
it?
Would you believe a threatening phone call AT HOME from the wonderful
Teamsters. By the way it's a threatening recording,not a real person who
can
hear your opinion of their petty antics. If anyone is foolish enough to
consider these idiots after these childish tactics I'm truly disgusted.
Poor
ALPA they play by the book in every way and they receive threats also. I
feel
it should be a violation of Article 21 to make threatening phone calls to
pilots at their homes! If only it had been a live person on the other end
of
that phone line......... REMAIN UNITED ALPA ALL THE WAY
Not Happy
Threeholedriver
Letter to Don Treichler of the IBT
----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Doran
To: Don Treichler <74103.343@Compuserve.com>
Cc: Mohafta
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2000 1:48 AM
Subject: Union Vote
Mr. Treichler:
This is my third year as a kittyhawk employee and have been here for most
of
the Union organizing efforts of the Teamsters, ALPA, and now the KPA. I
have stood by mostly as a silent witness but feel In light of recent
events
I can no longer do so. I have some questions and I have some thoughts and
hopefully you can shed some light for me.
1) Why do you and the Teamsters continue to try and divide our pilot group
?
We have answered you loud and clear on more than one occasion that the
Teamsters are not our Union of choice, yet you insist on continuing to try
and split the vote!!!
2) Why would you continue to push your organization upon us when it is
apparent we want nothing of it ???
3) After all the hard work of our UOC members what are you trying to gain
by
filing an injunction with the NMB to delay our vote ????
4) Why would the Teamsters want a pilot group that does not want them
????.......
Mr. treichler, your continued efforts to thwart our Union efforts and
railroad our vote is only enforcing the distrust that many of us already
have for you and your organization. Your organizations actions are doing
more to split the pilots of KHA and KHI and driving us further and further
apart. The KPA UOC has worked very hard to get this pilot group to were we
are today, they alone gathered the support of the pilot group with money
from there own pockets and at great risk to their own jobs and
careers........Mr.'s Treichler, I ask you "where were the teamsters before
when the cards were being sent in "???..........why not let us decide who
we
want to be on the ballot on our own ???......I understand in light of
recent
events and disclosure of KH INC's financial problems you are trying to
protect KHI jobs and honestly I do respect that as I can find no other
reason for you to delay or try and delay our vote. But these actions are
becoming more and more desperate. Let us imagine some possible outcomes of
your recent actions :
1..........we vote in ALPA as a write in candidate (never mind that this
proves once and for all that they are our Representation of choice) but
you
are successful in your PROTEST against ALPA.....
Result: we are left without representation because of your actions
2........ The vote is split (because the Teamsters magically appear on our
ballots after failing to do what the KPA did in 3 weeks, once again
proving
who we really do not want)
Result: we are left without representation because of you actions.
Sir, with all due respect I did not include the chance the Teamsters could
win a vote at KHA.......why ? because I think most people would agree that
a
vote for the Teamsters could be the end of many of our jobs here at KHA.
Repeatedly KHI union reps have told us we would not be placed on the
bottom
of anyone's seniority list ,all integration would be done by
Allegheny/mohawk precedent. But what about if there are layoffs on the
(KHI)
widebody side ?? how would we be protected then ?? there is a valid fear
that things are not so rosy on the the KHI side of the house, I think you
would agree. Layoffs in the event of seniority integration would be
catastrophic to most KHA employees based on date of hire. As of right now
there is no benefit to us to vote for the Teamsters and consequently
seniority integration, especially in light of recent financial events.
This
may sound selfish, but I have everything to loose and nothing to gain and
I
am sure if the shoe were reversed the feeling would be mutual. I have no
ill
will to my brothers and sisters at KHI and have always found the ones I
have
met to be very professional and courteous in every respect. Hopefully we
will all prosper and these times will pass.
Sir.....That said......in closing I must add that if we wanted the
Teamsters
Airline Division we would have voted in the Teamsters Airline Division. I
think with reference to this we have spoken loud and clear. If you still
believe that the teamsters have a chance then let us go through with our
vote and let the chips fall where they may with out any outside hindrances
or tactics on Your part in the form of injunctions and protests against
Anyone , that way at least if the Teamsters did win they will have done so
fairly and the transition to one pilot group would have been our choosing
and not forced upon us. Likewise I must ask if another Union is voted in
you
allow it to be your evidence that we have spoken and the issue be
considered
final.
I thank you for your consideration of this matter and to my brothers and
sisters at KHI I wish you the very best.
sincerely,
M.Doran
Triechler Responds to Inquiry
Mo,
feel free to print this letter from treichler in its entirety. I find
it
interesting that he would accuse me of criticizing the teamsters when
this
letter seems to be mostly about justifying their actions. Also notice
the
accusations leveled at ALPA when they could not have played more by the
rules than they have. My problem is not with the Teamsters as a
Union.......it never has been. My problem is the last minute
interference
at the witching hour. As to my question as to" why an injunction was
filed
to delay the vote ?" that went unanswered. Alpa has remained distant
throughout all of this and they continue to play fair and square. Mr.
treichler also states "ALPA has violated the AFL-CIO constitution" and
that
the teamsters will continue to file charges. How Mr. treichler has ALPA
violated the constitution this time around ? Also Mr. treichler states
that
"the IBT is entitled to others playing by the rules" Well Mr. treichler
we
the pilots of KHA are also entitled to others playing by the rules and
your
not doing it . Also does playing by the rules include actions to delay
our
vote ?. This doesn't hurt ALPA it hurts the pilots of KHA.
So in closing Mo' my request to let the chips fall were they may by
allowing
us to vote unencumbered fell on deaf ears as you can see by his response
to
me. It seems fair play can be so selective. Whats that old saying "whats
good for the goose........................." well you get the idea.
respectfully
M. Doran
Response to the Above
----- Original Message -----
From: IBTAIREP@cs.com
To: bluecollar@mindspring.com
Cc: GSmith2617@aol.com
Sent: Sunday, April 23, 2000 3:00 PM
Subject: Re: Union Vote
(Editor's note: Formatting in the following letter was lost in the email exchange)
Dear M. Doran:
Your questions are answered in order. (1) Why do the Teamsters try and
divide our pilot group? We have not. (2) Why do you try and push your
organization on us when its apparent we want nothing of it? That is your
perception. We were asked by your peers to help organize your group. (3)
Why would the Teamsters want a pilot group that does not want them? We
were
asked by your peers to help organize your group. (4) Where were the
Teamsters before when the cards were being sent in? We do not know what
level of cards the KPA filed with. The IBT did not receive its filing
threshold number, which is 65% of the eligible voters. I am told that
ALPA's
threshold is 75% and clearly they did not receive that level so they did
not
file. (5) (paraphrased) Why have you filed against ALPA which may leave
us
unrepresented? ALPA time and again has violated the AFL-CIO
Constitution.
Both ALPA and the IBT are members of the AFL-CIO. ALPA already was
sanctioned by the AFL-CIO for violations of the Constitution. ALPA
expects
the IBT to comply with the Constitution, something that it does not do.
The
IBT expects ALPA to comply with the AFL-CIO Constitution or its word is
worthless. (6) (Paraphrased) The vote may be split leaving us without
representation, Why have you done this? You fail to understand the
Railway
Labor Act. A split vote does not create failure since the total vote
determines whether certification will be made. If the total vote exceeds
50%
plus one vote of the eligible, the organization with the majority is
certified. (7) (Your statement having to do with your job security in the
event of a layoff?) First, there would be no combined layoff if the
companies are not merged. Second, layoffs would be determined by agreed
to
seniority if the companies were merged. Clearly, we do not know what that
seniority would look like since the two groups have not talked and no
arbitrator has ruled. This could involved percentage based integration,
i.e., 3 of 1 and 2 of the other (or some other ratio), etc. ALPA, for
instance, has a merger policy that a non-ALPA carrier goes to the bottom
of
the seniority list. Why, then, do you criticize the IBT when it and the
KHI
crewmembers wrote in their Agreement a far more positive integration
method
as relates to your group? Would you be equally as understanding of the
KHI
crewmembers? (8) Lastly, you state (paraphrased) let the vote go on
without
the hindrances. I wish to restate that ALPA violated the AFL-CIO
Constitution and the IBT will file charges against them every time they do
so. KHA is not the only charge pending against ALPA. You state that you
are
an ALPA supporter. You are entitled to your opinion and vote. Just
remember
that the IBT is entitled to others playing by the rules. ALPA did not and
has not. If that is the type of representative you want, according to
your
assessment you may get your wish. If that turns out to be the case, I
wish
you well.
Don Treichler
Awards Committee Strikes Again...
Disclaimer: The Awards Committee is a completely seperate entity from the Bark and the Kitty Hawk Pilot's association. Any opinions expressed below are soley of the Award Committee.
When the Awards Committee last convened, it unanimously voted an award for an unrecognized pro-union supporter. At our most recent meeting, it was decided that the committee should take management's side for once, due to the fact they've been gagged by the National Mediation Board's rules from publishing anything that could be considered "interference" with the union election. This hardly seems fair. We emphasize with management's position and would like to give them a well-deserved break for once and come out on their side since they can't speak for themselves.
As we all know, management has not wanted a pilot's union on the property. In taking management's side on this rare occasion, the Awards Committee is offering an award to the group that has been the most supportive of management's anti-union goals. This particular award goes to the group that has taken the most responsibility for keeping a union off of the Kitty Hawk Air Cargo property.
The Awards Committee hereby awards the "Just Because Our Name Has 'Union' In It Doesn't Mean We Want You To Have One, Too" award to our colleagues over at the Teamster's Local 747. The Teamsters have been absolutely instrumental in keeping the KHA property "sparklingly union free" for the past two years and deserve recognition for accomplishing this difficult, difficult task. Since KHA management cannot formally congratulate them at this time, the Awards Committee has stepped up to do the job instead.
Congratulations, Teamsters!
The Awards Committee recognizes you for the following feats of anti-union heroics that have warmed the hearts of both members of management and anti-union pilots alike:
- Two separate card "campaigns", at least one, perhaps both of which returned more than the minimum percentage of cards required to file for a vote, but which weren't submitted to the NMB by the Teamsters. This delaying tactic worked very well in postponing a union filing. By keeping the pilots guessing that perhaps an election would be called "any day now", the Teamsters were able to keep the in-house organizational pot from boiling over for as long as absolutely possible. Good job!
- The filing of "Single Carrier Status", by the Teamsters, which occurred during an organizational drive by ALPA. We applaud this brilliant anti-organizational move. By performing this strategic blocking move, the KHA pilot's union of choice, ALPA, was blocked from any further organizational efforts for almost two years! Way to go, Teamsters! This filing dealt a near-terminal blow to the hopes of ALPA supporters since ALPA was then forced to completely distance themselves from any organizing effort at KHA--even including the current one! Due to AFL-CIO rules, the Teamsters were able to block ALPA from sending any communications to KHA pilots at all. What a great strategy by our cigar chompin' brethren.
- The later dropping (!) of the single carrier status in exchange for "SCOPE" clauses in the contract negotiated by the Kitty Hawk International pilots. Since this SCOPE agreement was made between Kitty Hawk International and the Teamsters, but did not include Kitty Hawk Cargo which contracts the airplanes, the Teamsters were able to both keep KHA from unionizing while at the same time allowing management to completely negate the SCOPE, and bring in outside aircraft at will. This was win/win for both management and the anti-union forces! The Teamsters were able to keep a union from the KHA side while not costing management any resources or flexibility and keeping the KHI furloughed pilots from being re-hired. Now we know why the Teamsters leadership gets to ride in limousines!
- And last, but not least, in the face of an independent organizing effort by the Kitty Hawk Pilots Association, the Teamsters successfully petitioned the NMB to include the Teamsters on the ballot election cards. Even when faced with near-certain failure to keep the KHA pilots from organizing, the Teamsters pulled through and made a last-ditch heroic anti-organizing effort. If successful, the Teamsters may be able to sufficiently split the vote, negating the entire KPA organizing effort! We on the Awards Committee have to recognize this final last-ditch effort to keep the a union away from KHA.
On behalf of management's interest, we applaud you, Teamster's local 747. Thank you for the tremendous efforts you have made in keeping a union from the property at KHA. It is not for the weak of heart, those tactics you employed--and we respect that. Filing the Single Carrier petition, admitting it was only a negotiating tool that was not even related to the KHA pilot's best interests, and then attempting to place the Teamsters on the election ballot, while still (still!) maintaining straight face must have taken a lot of courage. The Awards Committee fully respects that courage.
Again, thank you Teamsters. What we originally thought of as simple clumsy self-serving efforts by the leaders of a truck driver's union really had a much deeper meaning and goals.
The Awards Committee.