Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you for taking the time to become an informed voter in the upcoming Election for Executive Board Officers and Trustees of our Local Union 2750.
By now, It should be obvious to everyone how important it is that we operate within the rules set forth by our CBA, the LMRDA, IBT constitution and Local 2750 bylaws. Now, we move forward and onto the voting period.
After 19 years, I am proud to have made my career as a Captain with Atlas Air. During my time here I have served as a Steward. I have firsthand experience with how our contracts have fallen short of providing the work rules and compensation we deserve for the service we all provide.
Recently I have intentionally been staying out of the post election fray, trying to maintain some dignity while our slate and specifically John Corcoran have been attacked for seeking a free and fair election. This was never about losing, it was about the fundamental rights of everyone to receive a ballot and have a voice in their union, but as they say this is politics.
Moving forward…
A review of the Bylaws will indicate the duty of the E-Board is primarily Governance and oversight. Unfortunately, ever since we have been Teamsters, this hasn’t always been the case.
My goal is to ensure that our committees and Stewards will be the driving force behind contract compliance and contract enhancements. These are the people who know best, what works and doesn’t work for our Pilots, as well as what changes should be made to improve our work rules and pay while restoring and protecting your seniority.
Candidates for Vice-President, John Corcoran and Recording Secretary, Don Sorrentino will be tasked with empowering the committees and stewards to do their jobs, utilize surveys and compile the data necessary to formulate your contract demands. This will be accomplished by the E-Board doing its job and providing the appropriate resources as required.
Leadership with transparency
In addition, we need, and you deserve, financial transparency. Our dues paying members have a right to know how their hard-earned membership dues money is being spent. Every year the LM-2 (the locals financial report to the DOL) gets passed around only by members that know it can be obtained thru the Dept. of Labor website and that’s about the extent of it. I will make available each year the LM-2 Statement for review by the entire membership. I will also require the Candidate for Secretary-Treasurer, Malvika Matharoo, present to the membership a monthly report of all expenditures. The three candidates for Trustee; Mark South, Bruce Batelaan and Vanessa Riveiro will serve as the required check and balance of our finances as required by our By-laws.
Contract Negotiations Within 24 months
We will be in contract negotiations. I would like to point out the following from IBT Constitution:
Art. XII, Sec. 1 All negotiating committees established and tasked with negotiating collective bargaining agreements between a Local Union and employers shall include rank and file members who work under such agreement. The term “rank and file” is defined as “those who form the major portion of any group or organization, excluding the leaders and officers.”
Currently, all but one of our negotiating committee members are E-Board officers. The officers should maintain a thirty-five-thousand-foot view, rather than get caught up in the fog of war. This is about the written demands of the Crewmembers of Atlas Air (rank and file) and not just the opinion of seven Executive Board Members.
Our E-Board will take a step back from this process and request that the Negotiating Committee Chairman find new members from the active line pilot group with a fresh perspective. In addition, we will employ a Negotiations Consulting Firm to leverage the expertise that our committees will bring to the collective bargaining process.
Mr. Steen has expressed a desire to take Atlas Air, from great to “Giant” and I couldn’t agree more. Let’s take this opportunity to finally be bold. To get there, we will need to work in the spirit of cooperation, with open minds. Contract inefficiencies will be evaluated and considered to improve productivity while being appropriately compensated for the value we add to Atlas Air.
Represent That We Are 3000 Strong
In the recent overturned Election many of you did not receive ballots, or received ballots late or missed the voting period altogether. It was a lot of intense work for John Corcoran to take point, make the protest and get a new election. He received a lot of grief and criticism but didn’t give up. The easy thing to do would have been to walk away, but in a world of compromise some men don’t and John didn’t. He’s a fighter and stood on the principles of a Democratic Union protecting our right to vote, my hats off to him. After all this effort it would be a shame to have a low voter turnout. Please exercise your right and vote. We need a to send the message that we are united.
Fly safe,
Pete Tanner
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