I love my job

I love my job, I enjoy working with the Med Crews and our Mechanic is a consummate professional. Why should I feel the need for a Union?

The current setup after the buyout leaves the pilots and other employees of the former RMH as second class citizens. We do not receive the same benefits, we are pretty much left out of the decision making loop, and we are told that safety issues, we feel are important, are of no concern. I have heard this from other pilots so I know I am not alone. As of today we do not know what benefits we have as no employee manual has been provided.

A Pilots Union would remedy these problems by opening a direct line of communication with the Company, ending the information void we are currently operating in. What we are supposed to receive would be spelled out, as well as what we are supposed to do for our employer. The pilots I know at our base and others nearby are not the types to only do the minimum. All our crews do their best to see that the Company succeeds

I feel job security is probably a more important issue, overall, than pay and benefits. There are so many instances of pilots loosing their jobs not for flight deficiencies, but because of cults of personalities. If you are doing all that’s asked of you in a safe and conscientious manner, you should not have to look over your shoulder to see if someone is out to get you.

Pay and benefits also need to be addressed. Since this is a corporation, the shareholders are entitled to a return on their investment. Many of the employees are probably shareholders and want the company to make a profit. If the Corporation is being run properly, there should be enough income to make a profit and pay those who are doing the work a decent wage with good benefits. If the employees feel cheated, then they do not have any loyalty or pride in the company. Without a sense of “WE are in this together” the work becomes just a job.

I do not see the Union as a threat to the company. I see it as a useful tool that would benefit the Company and the Employees. With the Pilots concerns being voiced collectively, without fear of reprisals, small problems can be handled before they escalate to major headaches. The Company would have one source to receive and send out information so that everyone is informed. As stated earlier, the pilots I have met are not the types to just try to get by. All look forward to being with the best company in the EMS field. With a Union, the Company and the Pilots can prosper.