30 June 2008

Dear Omniflight Pilot:

Several Omniflight pilots have shown a strong interest to improve working conditions, unionize the pilot workforce and seek a collective bargaining agreement. The Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) has agreed to help.

Those of you that have been with Omniflight for any length of time knows that in years past management made several changes that adversely affected your pay, working conditions and benefits.

There are a great many important issues; better wage improvements, a concise, well defined pay scale with planned growth, improvements to healthcare benefits, vacation leave, and other benefits which can be gained through the collective bargaining process. These improvements will greatly benefit all Omniflight pilots and your families. 

As has been the case with all of the other OPEIU unionized helicopter pilots, credible improvements to their wages and benefits came about only after they unionized and achieved their first collective bargaining agreement. Those pilots have set the initial standard, and now have legally binding contracts which define their wages and benefits, provide for a fair conflict resolution process and respect seniority.

Enclosed for your consideration is an Authorization Card. You can also download a card from the OPEIU pilot organizing website at: EMSPILOTS.COM. The website also contains a lot of valuable information about the union organizing and collective bargaining processes, your legal rights regarding union activity, OPEIU aviation local unions and much more. Please take the time to review all of the information on the website.

Organizing a group of pilots as wide spread as those at Omniflight is a difficult task.  Gathering the addresses of each pilot sometimes leads to some individuals being left off of our initial list. If you hear of a pilot who may be interested, but has not received a letter from us, please let me know. Also, please inform me if you are willing to help with the organizing campaign. Your confidence will be respected, and protected.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

All my best,

Jeff Rusich
OPEIU Representative
800-978-1536 (pager/voicemail)
opeiurep@aol.com