Exiting the Peak Season

WELCOME 21 Air’s new hires. TAPA’s Officers and our Committee Chairmen look forward to meeting you as you transition to flying status. We understand training is a long haul. Were glad to meet you. It’s great to “get out and on the line.”

CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS On Jan. 19, 2021, our founding TAPA officers agreed to legal language in the TAPA Constitution and Bylaws. Resolution #7 was presented on May 25, 2022. It passed with 100% of pilots voting to establish TAPA as a Florida Corporation and begin dues collection. We circulated the DCO forms and Pro-Con paper to provide the basis for TAPA membership “in good standing.” The purpose of dues collection or agency shop fees is to fund and prepare for Sec. 6 negotiations and represent pilots in accordance with our CBA.

BALLOTING Your elected officers actively seek members to participate on TAPA Committees and get involved with representing pilot interests. It’s important to understand the time factor and personal sacrifices necessary to serve pilots. TAPA contacted the legal counsel of the National Mediation Board (NMB) for clarity. We added discussions with our lawyers and the Aviation Division of the Int’l Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) on the legal basis for the recent balloting. TAPA is the NMB designated bargaining agent for 21Air pilots in accordance with NMB approval. There are no changes in TAPA’s elected leadership. See www.21air.org for “Wildcatting.” 

VOTING Your TAPA officers, Karl, Tony and Jim are glad to pass along the leadership of our Association in an orderly process defined by the TAPA Constitution and Bylaws. Unfortunately, we can not pass along the leadership of TAPA to “members not in good standing.” That means if you don’t keep your TAPA dues current, you fall out of “good standing” and cannot vote, nor serve on a committee, or hold any elected office. Agency Shop fees are at the same rate. So, If you’ve “pulled your DCO form,” you’ve been scammed. The wildcatters just convinced you to give up your voting rights on future TAPA business.

IBT TRANSITION Your elected TAPA officers continued discussions with the Teamsters in constructive talks on how an interactive merger will work. TAPA wanted more clarity on how this could affect improvements for 21Air pilots. Our Company again trails the industry. The IBT represents ABX, Cape Air, Omni, Silver and the leading regional airline pilot contract for the Horizon Air pilots. See: Airline Professionals Association | Teamsters Local Union No. 1224 (apa1224.org)

SURVEY LINK One of the ideal ways to address CBA changes is to participate in TAPA’s contract survey for future negotiations. We will address the monthly guarantee, pay rates, scheduling and benefits. In the interim, log on to www.21air.org and click on the message icon to send your thoughts and comments. Send us your top five areas of change. That helps TAPA shape the expectations and how we will propose to the Company. Look for the pilot survey news coming soon to www.21air.org. Click on the NEWS toolbar at the top of the web page.

AMAS is a high-value medical website for your FAA medical questions. It’s staffed by FAA-AMEs that have pilot interests in mind and can confidentially assist with medical issues you might have. TAPA partners with AMAS for medical services. There’s a $49 fee to consult. See www.aviationmedicine.com A follow-up call is included.

ZED FARES We began work on a pass program a few months ago reviewing options on how it might function. Basically, TAPA will be paying the yearly fee for our pilots to sign-in and able to purchase ID.90 (10%) tickets. It appears we qualify as an air carrier, so stay tuned as we release more details on this great travel program.