OPEIU says we'll have our own aviation local union run by us.
If that's true, why are they involved? What does OPEIU get out of
it?
A previous local union officer from one of the helicopter locals
was certain it was all about money. Despite having seen first hand
what OPEIU had done for his group, nothing could dispel his certainty
that it was just for the money. Something about us just won't let
us believe that it could be anything else.
One could as easily ask what's in it for the American Heart Association
to fund cardiac research, or for the Save The Children Foundation
for their relief efforts. Yet, for some reason we find it hard to
believe that there could be such thing as a true non-profit organization
that concerns itself solely with labor issues and with justice in
the workplace. Call it that innate professional pilot skepticism,
or the well-known helicopter pilot pessimism - "if it looks
good, I must be missing something."
It is true that there are constraints that are placed on labor
organizations that are not placed on other non-profit organizations.
For example the financial reporting requirements are much stricter
than for any other non-profit that I know of. In addition to that,
the Department of Labor has a system where members can complain
about their union if need be. I know of no other non-profit that
has to deal with those sorts of constraints. It's worth it though,
when you recognize that we gain the right to bargain the terms and
conditions of our employment with our employer. So they are somewhat
different, but why is it so hard to believe that these people are
motivated by a bone-deep belief in what they stand for?
As I mentioned in a previous post, we do pay a monthly per capita
to the OPEIU International Union. It amounts to approximately $12
per member per month. All that your union collects in dues above
that amount stays with your local union. The OPEIU Per Capita funds
the activities of the OPEIU, both in service to the existing local
unions, and in organizing other new local unions. I guess it might
be helpful to list some of the things OPEIU has done for Local 108.
First, they funded our three organizing drives. Before OPEIU came
along, other unions had tried to help us get organized, even ALPA,
but only OPEIU stuck with us through our several elections and appeals
to the National Mediation Board. As many of you may know, PHI pulled
out all the stops in fighting us, and we spent a great deal on legal
help, in addition to the ordinary expenses of just organizing. PHI
probably spent around $5 million fighting the will of the pilots.
I'm guessing OPEIU spent around $1 million helping us. I know of
no other union that would have done that.
Next, OPEIU funded our part of the contract negotiation costs.
Because OPEIU policy is that until a local union has a signed contract
the members pay no dues. They fund your initial negotiations' expenses.
Our negotiation costs were probably in excess of $100 thousand.
Yours will almost certainly be higher, since you are more spread
out, and will require greater coordination. (Incidentally, I am
hopeful that Local 108 can help you here too).
Further, before we even started, we told OPEIU we wanted a national
organization for helicopter pilots to deal with national and international
issues. Not only have they come through with that promise, but also
they have funded our council, the Professional Helicopter Pilots
Association, to a greater extent than I imagined they would. First,
they pay most of the costs for the PHPA office and equipment in
New Orleans. Second, they purchased "Autorotate" magazine
to be our national magazine, and hired the editor for our staff.
They negotiated with ALPA to gain permission for PHPA
to be the U.S. representative to the International Federation of
Air Line Pilots Associations (IFALPA) Helicopter Committee, internationally.
In addition to funding our representative's trips to the IFALPA
meetings in Barcelona, Stavangar, and Mexico City, they have funded
our participation in ICAO proceedings in Montreal. Our local members
do pay dues to the PHPA but those revenues do not even come remotely
close to paying the expenses of the PHPA.
Finally, since Local 108 is a new union, OPEIU has funded training
for our local members at the National Labor College, in Silver Springs,
MD. Last December we sent 6 of our representatives for a weeklong
training course on contract negotiations in the airline industry.
Before that we sent representatives there for new union-leader training
and on another occasion for training in handling grievances and
arbitrations.
So, what's the catch? Everyone who flies has already benefited
from what the OPEIU has done. We know what you can do if you get
organized, and how influential you will be on EMS issues. We hope
once you are organized, you'll return the favor and help with other
groups.
Look at it this way: over 1000 organized airplane and helicopter
pilots in three OPEIU locals are not complaining, and would never
think of going back to the way things were. There must be something
there.
What's in it for Local 108? Just returning the favor, that's all...
All the best,
Steve Ragin
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The problem is not so much disbelief, as it is the will to not believe.
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