Dear Atlas Pilots,
The Right Choice was always in favor of negotiating an agreement with Atlas Air
Management that Prevented furlough and reduced downgrades.
The membership was not included in the negotiation, instead we were presented a take
it or leave it offer. We were lied to, if we voted NO, 500 pilots would be furloughed and many downgrades would occur.
The big winner of the LOA passing was Atlas Air! We gave away the leverage of millions of dollars of training expenses in exchange for saving jobs that were never in jeopardy.
We were manipulated with fear tactics, by our own union that was acting as an extension of management. Chris Knox stated if we voted NO that 500 pilots would lose their jobs, this was a lie and he betrayed your trust.
We would like to provide some observations and facts to promote critical thinking and logic on how we got here.
We were never told the results of Scott Lindsay’s original position bid, that was delayed then later cancelled. Obviously, Atlas was exposed to considerable training costs and this was our bargaining leverage.
Why didn’t Chris Knox explain this?
Without this critical and factual information, we were flying blind.
Management would never have offered their best offer first. Again, Yngve Paulsen and Chris Knox fixed an Atlas problem at the expense of the pilots in record time.
Observations:
• No furlough clause has many unexplained exceptions.
• Travel away from training only IF a 72 hr break from training occurs, we could have negotiated that breaks (3,5,7 day) would be required. (We all
know Atlas will never intentionally schedule a break, unless of course the SIM goes down, the new standard)
• Training instructors are protected for override and higher guarantee, to not instruct. Does this help the group?
• Company saved millions on training and we couldn’t get any scope improvements. Atlas can still subcontract our flying to Kalitta and others. Why should that be ok, if we were supposed to furlough 500 and downgrade 140 pilots?
• Two LOA’s have now been voted on. Both had multiple agreements that could not be voted on separately. Both were “porked up” with special
interest that did not benefit the whole membership.
Facts:
1. The Dept. of Labor has been watching IBT locals 1224/2750 meals and entertainment expenditures for years. “more expenses than all other locals DOL watches over combined” and still continues.
2. The Right Choice Slate sent notice to the 2750 Eboard early in 2023 to tell them there must be a leadership election in 2023. (Denied)
3. TRCS sent notice to IBT Pres. Sean O’Brien requesting he inform Yngve Paulsen of his responsibility to comply with the IBT Constitution and conduct an election in 2023 as opposed to 2024 (President Paulsen had mistakenly and conveniently believed.)
4. IBT Pres. O’Brien corrected and compelled Pres. Paulsen to conduct an election in 2023.
5. TRCS sent notices to local 2750 to request more than 30 days for election ballots to be returned. (Denied)
6. TRCS sent notice to 2750 that people were not getting ballots or missing items in ballots.
7. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters overturned the illegal election held in 2023 on numerous counts.
8. The Dept. of Labor did their own investigation and concluded the election violated Federal law.
9. TRCS did not ask to stop critical union communications.
10. The Eboard, on their own, stopped communications to avoid the Dept. of
Labor from monitoring to prevent more violations of federal law.
11. The Eboard is not transparent to you as members, too many things
happen behind the scenes and NOT in your favor.
12. The Eboard Sec/Treas. Heath Martin, has kicked members of TRCS off of their committees because their opinions are different than his. (childish behavior at best)
• 13. The Eboard Sec/Treas., Heath Martin has not allowed TRCS members to join his private “Atlas Pilot” FB page. Heath Martin didn’t have the courage to respond, rather he posted on his FB page “they can start their own” thereby, silencing an opposing viewpoint and allowing only PKS supporters to spread lies and create a hostile work environment (ignoring solidarity and unity)
• 14. The current Eboard is on the negotiating team – ignoring the Constitution, that requires a negotiating committee be seated with rank-and-
file members (active line pilots).
• 15. The Eboard ignores our Bylaws, failing to request our demands prior to negotiating (were you asked on either of the 2 LOA’s?)
• 16. We are not and will not be career politicians sitting at home for years on end. (Working remotely)
• 17. We will not go from pro union to pro company as a Chief Pilot in 1 day to the next. (Conflict of interest) We will pledge a 1-year cool down period.
• 18. Fact: The Right Choice Slate has fought for you!
Discuss these facts amongst yourselves, if you’re new to Atlas ask senior pilots that have suffered thru this lack of representation.
Require our current Eboard to be held accountable to these facts, get ready for their denial. All of them are more concerned with maintaining
their position as the highest paid Captains that fly the least by abusing our dues monies.
We need you to fight too!
Please vote!
The Right Choice Slate
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