Amerijet On Strike!

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

Now thats weird. I've heard both things.....that it is an ALPA generated list, and that it isn't an ALPA generated list.

So it isn't?

It is not.

I dont know the entire history of "the list". but I believe ALPA created/maintained the first list, and then there was a lawsuit or two over it, and the judge said no more list making. Some one from within ALPA took on list making as their own project 'independent' of alpa, and thus you have the list of today. You'd probaly want to ask Todd, to some one else that has a lot more intamate knowledge of that list, but that might be the one minute version of the history of it.

Scab lists used to be maintained by ALPA International way back in the day (think Century Airlines), or by the individual MECs in later years (think CAL or EAL). The Century scab list was actually published on the front page of Air Line Pilot Magazine. That didn't last long, though, and ALPA became so big that it was better to have each individual airline keep track of their scabs.

During the EAL strike, the EAL MEC published several official lists throughout the strike. At the end of the strike, the lists were all compiled into the final official list, which was titled "The SCABS of the Eastern Strike of 1989." This was the last time that any scab list was published by an ALPA entity. There aren't too many of these old lists still floating around, but occasionally you'll run into an old timer that still has his. I knew a retired EAL striker down in Florida that had his copy hanging from a noose in his hangar.

In the '90s, the various scab lists were all compiled by a regional pilot that worked at an ALPA carrier, but he was not acting on behalf of ALPA. It was his own personal project. Most of the "Master Scab Lists" that you'll find nowadays were generated from this project. He still maintains the list, although he no longer works for an ALPA carrier.

As far as lawsuits, there was a major lawsuit filed against ALPA by an EAL pilot regarding the list, but the judge dismissed the claim, saying that it was not libel or slander to call someone a scab if they did indeed fit the definition. So, ALPA has never lost a lawsuit related to a scab list, but they still don't publish them for whatever reason.

 

[OldTownPilot]

Delta, Whose ticket stock the passengers were issued, would be responsible for paying who carried the passenger, weather it be AA, CO US, etc. If the passengers were routed on ASA, skywest, mainline DL, there wouln't really be any change in how the money was divied up, as at the time OH was a wholy owned of DL. So no, Comair would not have made money on rebooked passengers, just as they would not for a MX cancellation. Ultimately is was all Deltas money anyways. I'm sure the agreements are a LOT more complicated than that, but whats to stop a company that sends stuff on Amerijet to send stuff on FedEx, or any other cargo carrier that will accept that companys freight.

 

[juan valdez]

On topic but not important per se.
The Zero G plane, or at least one of them, is pretty much constantly out here at EFD for NASA. Does that mean it won't be flying anymore til the strike is over? Or maybe NASA's own pilots are already the ones that fly it, and it has no affect on them.

 

[Douglas]

:rawk: :clap:

 

[wheelsup]

On topic but not important per se.
The Zero G plane, or at least one of them, is pretty much constantly out here at EFD for NASA. Does that mean it won't be flying anymore til the strike is over? Or maybe NASA's own pilots are already the ones that fly it, and it has no affect on them.

ZeroG bought another plane and was training pilots on their own. I'm not sure if they finished the training but I would assume they did.

 

[falconvalley]

It will be interesting to see how this plays out for those pilots and IBT.

 

[Socal321]

Numerous Amerijet flights are still flying on schedule as of right now according to flightaware. Probably management plots? Scabs?

 

[SpiraMirabilis]

Sometimes it takes a little while for the union to notify everyone. I hope thats what is going on.

 

[727to7400]

So - question here. Say Atlas or someone else picks up the work - do the Atlas pilots refuse to fly it? How does all of that work? Who would determine who is flying work that should have been flown by Amerijet (assuming they can't find scabs)?

The Atlas, Polar and ABX pilots (all part of IBT Local 1224) came out several days ago and said they would support Amerijet and not fly their freight. They'll likely do as in the past and verify airbills and dump the offending cargo. Most of the places Amerijet goes to can't service 747's anyway. ABX has some contract work with Amerijet, and has already refused to operate the flights. Local 747, the one under new leadership has also come out in support. :rawk:

So far, ALPA has been strangely silent.

And yes, if you do go to work for them, you're a scab.

As for ALPA and scab lists, ask an ALPA attorney and watch them run. Keeping a list is illegal and they would be subject to all kinds of legal actions.

Would someone who crosses a Teamsters line end up on an ALPA list? Who knows? Based on CAL and others, it seems that if you pay ALPA enough blood money, ALPA will turn a blind eye to anything. To them, a scab with a checkbook is just fine.

 

[juan valdez]

ZeroG bought another plane and was training pilots on their own. I'm not sure if they finished the training but I would assume they did.

Oh ok. Thanks for the response.

 

[surreal1221]

Replacing/working struck work, or crossing a designated picket line would make one a scab, by definition.

What I'm wondering is, because this is Teamsters, would said scab appear in the "scab books" of ALPA pilots?

A scab is a scab, no matter what union is representing the work group. And this doesn't just mean within our industry of aviation professionals.

 

[ladder360]

The Atlas, Polar and ABX pilots (all part of IBT Local 1224) came out several days ago and said they would support Amerijet and not fly their freight. They'll likely do as in the past and verify airbills and dump the offending cargo. Most of the places Amerijet goes to can't service 747's anyway. ABX has some contract work with Amerijet, and has already refused to operate the flights. Local 747, the one under new leadership has also come out in support. :rawk:

So far, ALPA has been strangely silent.

And yes, if you do go to work for them, you're a scab.

As for ALPA and scab lists, ask an ALPA attorney and watch them run. Keeping a list is illegal and they would be subject to all kinds of legal actions.

Would someone who crosses a Teamsters line end up on an ALPA list? Who knows? Based on CAL and others, it seems that if you pay ALPA enough blood money, ALPA will turn a blind eye to anything. To them, a scab with a checkbook is just fine.

Much more clear! Thanks for answering my question - I was beginning to think it was lost in the fray.

 

[Seggy]

Like to say good luck to the AmeriJet Strikers. There ARE some Scabs from this strike already.

The Atlas, Polar and ABX pilots (all part of IBT Local 1224) came out several days ago and said they would support Amerijet and not fly their freight. They'll likely do as in the past and verify airbills and dump the offending cargo. Most of the places Amerijet goes to can't service 747's anyway. ABX has some contract work with Amerijet, and has already refused to operate the flights. Local 747, the one under new leadership has also come out in support. :rawk:

Has the IBT released to anyone a list of what would be considered struck work? That would have been smart to do.

So far, ALPA has been strangely silent.

Has the new leadership of the IBT written a letter to ALPA asking for support? I am pretty sure they haven't. Maybe something like that would have been smart to do as well.

 

[Murdoughnut]

Do they have a PFT agreement? Would suck for those guys

 

[ChasenSFO]

With such a relatively small pilot group, I'm surprised some people wouldn't support the strike.

 

[subpilot]

There ARE some Scabs from this strike already.

Who, from where, how do you know???

Grab the pitchforks!!!

 

[Seggy]

It has been posted on other boards that some have crossed the line.

 

[Socal321]

It has been posted on other boards that some have crossed the line.

Yea about 20% of the pilot group so far! I guess they know they're lifers anyways. But yes, very surprising for such a small pilot group.

 

[subpilot]

Still waiting on the "So I hear Amerijet is hiring?" post to show up here soon.


20% is huge! Don't they realize that are ruining there professional career as no other pilot will give them even the time of day ever again. When this strike is over they will still have to work with the other 80% of the union and if the company fails then they will have to look for work at other carrier. Either way, I would hate to be one of them right now.

 

[Polar742]

From Local 1224:

[FONT=&quot]August 28, 2009[/FONT]​

[FONT=&quot]Dear Local 1224 Crewmembers,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Yesterday at 4:30 p.m. the crewmembers of Amerijet International went on strike. This action culminates five long years of bad faith bargaining by their management team. Despite the 30-day cooling period and super-mediation imposed by the National Mediation Board, Amerijet was unable to agree to the most basic dignity items that any employee would expect. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]A first contract is always a struggle under the Railway Labor Act. As the end game approached wage rates were agreed upon and it seemed a deal was in the offing. Unfortunately, in the late hours of August 26 the company walked out of negotiations refusing to change their sick leave policy.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]This policy can only be described as draconian and patently unsafe in aviation. The company refused to change its current policy which allows no more than six sick days a year. When crewmembers call in sick they lose flight credit for that trip and are docked five hours of additional pay. No, you did not misread that. It is not surprising that Amerijet also refuses to provide in-flight lavatories, food or even water to its crewmembers. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I am proud to say that members of Local 1224 are staunchly supporting our Teamster brothers from Amerijet. Last night over 20 members of 1224 from all of our carriers joined Airline Division Director David Bourne on the overnight picket line in front of Amerijet operations at MIA’s Cargo City. Since the strike, only two of their seven airplanes have left the ground. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Many of you have been through this at Polar and Atlas or with previous carriers and know how difficult it can be to navigate the legal minefield of supporting another air carrier’s strike. Managements’ have claimed that you have no right to honor a picket line and must carry struck work. Many companies over the years have threatened termination to those that outright refuse to cross a picket line or fly struck goods. I will not debate the legal arguments here. It is sufficient to understand the tremendous stress and anxiety created in a crewmember that has the choice of being fired or risks his or her safety, his property and his good name by crossing a picket line or transporting struck goods. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]If you are confronted with a picket line and those choices and feel that the stress and emotional strain it creates will not allow you to focus on operating the aircraft safely, then as a certificated airman you must declare yourself unfit and not operate the aircraft. This Local and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters will defend your individual right to exercise your certificate responsibly.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]ABX Air has two airplanes that often fly for Amerijet. It is unfortunate that 1224’s ABX Air crews find themselves in the middle of this situation. There was, after all, 30 days notice of this impending action. However, ABX management did not attempt to call your Union for advice. Had they, they would have been reminded that in 2005 crewmember Captain Barney Nownes refused to cross a picket line in Omaha. Though briefly taken out of service he was not disciplined in any way for exercising his rights and responsibilities as a certificated airman. ABX would also have been cautioned about cooperating with Amerijet to affect the delivery of struck goods. Late yesterday evening one of ABX’s Amerijet charters had a scheduled destination change to POS. This is especially concerning because of credible reports of Amerijet’s plan to have ABX transport goods from MIA to POS and have scab pilots fly the freight to other destinations. Clearly, our crewmembers would not want to be accused of aiding and abetting such an act and risk their reputations. The company should have as much sense regarding sullying its corporate reputation by aiding a company with such atrocious safety policies. It should also be concerned these actions could legally make ABX a primary target of the job action. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Local 1224 will do everything in its power to ensure the other customers of our carriers are not harmed by Amerijet’s actions. We went to great lengths with the Miami Teamster Locals to guarantee the picket lines would not interfere with DHL’s operations, which are very close to Amerijet’s operations. We will continue to exercise our power judiciously to protect our professions. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]This crisis may continue for some time, the first 12 hours have been very successful but we must maintain our vigilance and our support for the Amerijet pilots must grow. If you are interested in supporting the effort, please email E-board member Greg Maltese at gmaltese@apa1224.org. A grassroots fund-raising campaign will begin shortly to supplement the Amerijet crewmembers’ Teamster benefits. Local 1224 Vice President Steve Jayson at sjayson@apa1224.org will head this effort.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I would like to acknowledge the efforts of Atlas Captains Steve Richards and Bob Ulrich, ABX Air Captain Dave Ross and First Officer John Liebenow, and Local 769 Business Agent Daisy Gonzales for their contributions to the Airline Division's first Multi-Local Strike Committee. Their face to face communication with the Amerijet crews over the last several weeks was critical to this campaign. Locals 747, 1224, 769 and 986 joined forces to create the Strike Committee. We also have received support from the pilots of Capital Cargo International and the Allied Pilots Association (American) pilots to ensure Amerijet crews can get jumpseats home. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I continue to urge each of you to lend your full support to the Amerijet crewmembers. Our continuing support will have a positive impact for our profession. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]If you have any questions or concerns during these turbulent circumstances, please call the union hall or contact me via email.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Fraternally,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]

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