ALPA supports AMC pilots
Dear AMC Pilot:
The 66,000 airline pilots in the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA)
urge all pilots at Air Methods Corporation(AMC)to vote for union
representation with the Office and Professional Employees International
Union (OPEIU).
Too often, without a union, operators treat their pilots as if
they are disposable and unnecessary to the success of the company.
However, for unionized commercial airline pilots, a union has meant
that our employers respect us as skilled professionals and respect
our profession in general. That respect translates into significantly
higher pay than that of our non-union counterparts. It also means
we have gained excellent benefits and better working conditions.
Additionally, our pilots have the security of working under a union
contract. As you know, when a company is looking to place blame,
it’s a pilot who is often called to task. Under a union contract,
when a pilot is treated unfairly, he is not alone. Rather, he is
aided by a grievance procedure, and union representatives schooled
in defending pilots’ interests.
But it is not only the on-the-job representation that makes having
a union so important. We in ALPA have found that it is vital for
commercial pilots to have a strong voice in the myriad regulatory
and legislative matters that govern our industry. The pilots’
perspective is not always the same as that of our employers. Thus,
it is critical that pilots have our own organization to represent
us before the outside forces that have control over our industry,
our safety concerns and our jobs. Through our relationship with
the International Federation of Airline Line Pilots Association
(IFALPA) we have offered our assistance to the OPEIU by providing
them with a seat on the IFALPA Helicopter Committee.
The gains ALPA has made for commercial pilots started with individual
pilots like you who were willing to stand up for themselves and
their fellow pilots. Just like you, thousands of pilots have had
to take the first step and make the decision for union representation.
We in ALPA recognize that the decision to have a union represent
us is not always an easy one for as professional pilots so much
of what we do rests on our individual expertise and decision-making.
It also is hard to make this decision in the midst of a heated
campaign when you are being bombarded with anti-union propaganda
from the company. But in the privacy of your home, when you have
your telephone voting instructions in front of you, we urge you
to vote yes for OPEIU representation.
We look forward to working with you and the OPEIU to ensure that
all EMS pilots, helicopter and airplane, have a voice in your working
conditions and profession.
Sincerely,
Captain Duane Woerth
President, ALPA
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