WELCOME 21 Air’s pilots. Spring is here. TAPA’s 2022 elected Officers, Karl, Tony and Jim wish you all the best for this new year. There have been no LEGAL changes to TAPA’s elected Officers at the DOL or at the NMB. Capt. Jim Scheidler is registered and on file as your elected Secretary / Treasurer in good standing and in accordance with TAPA’s Constitution & Bylaws.

ELECTIONS TAPA is waiting on a response from the company sponsored leadership on the conflict with the recent TAPA elections and the newly claimed board. As you might be aware the recall vote was not in compliance with TAPA’s Constitution and Bylaws. This vote may also not be in compliance with LMRDA law at the Department of Labor Office of Elections. Since all pilots must be in good standing to VOTE, we have posted an open letter on www.21air.org. The Department of Labor (DOL) regulates elections and voting for the National Mediation Board (NMB).

WHY WE DIDN’T SIGN TAPA welcomes the Company to open-up discussions under CBA Sec. 20.C to address diminished pay and benefits for 21Air pilots. When TAPA “accepted” the Tentative Agreement (TA) on the May 1, 2022 pay and benefit package, the Association’s Negotiating Committee (ANC) had a “basketful” of questions from the 21Air pilots. Unfortunately, we received an “incomplete work product” from the Company that required a significant amount of discussion. This included a transition pro-rate from FO to Captain, new hire bonus pay, benefit packages designed for other employees and addressing bonus pay over retention pay. Several pilots that leave or retire are getting shorted final pay or not receiving vacation payouts. TAPA had proposed the new bonus be included in future pay rates for all pilots. The Company would simply not meet or discuss any details. Without any meetings on pilot issues, there were too many questions for TAPA to finalize the May 2022 tentative agreement (TA). Our current attrition rate is evident that 21Air pilots are not pleased with our management team.

UNION COSTS For those of you that have participated in a pilots association, the costs to operate include administration, legal, representation, safety and contract negotiations. We work with lawyers and consultants to assist with TAPA's day-to-day operation, rather than hire full time staff. Only labor lawyers can address the legal elements of our CBA effectively. Initially, TAPA set our dues rate at 1.5% and published a white paper on how we arrived at that rate. What we know is the services needed to operate an effective pilot union are better shared with a larger group with established resources and staff. As we grow, IBT #1224 Airline Professionals Association | Teamsters Local Union No. 1224 (apa1224.org) has the full-time staff to address our 21Air contract administration and future pilot negotiations.

IBT RUMORS As you know your elected officers have had extensive discussions with the Teamsters (IBT #1224) about representing our interests going forward with a merger. This is not your knee-busting Teamsters. Tony, Jim & Karl’s 50-plus years as ALPA pilots give us a prospective to fully recommend IBT to you as a professional pilot’s organization, staffed with advisors and lawyers. The IBT have spent a considerable amount of time with the TAPA Officers answering questions and getting to know our pilot group. Capt. Joe Muckle has been IBT #1224 President for 12 years. Joe flies for ABX out of KCVG as B767 Captain. At our request, Joe and the IBT staff have met with us several times to discuss growing our pilot group and creating a positive safety culture. So far, ABX, Horizon Air, Omni, Cape Air and Silver Airways are represented by #1224. IBT also represents the Allegiant Air pilots. We will keep you updated as these talks progress.

DUES CHECKOFF Your elected TAPA officers received a letter claiming that “your dues” may be redirected to a new TAPA. This same group ran a “no dues” campaign. If you would like to maintain your vote with the NMB approved pilot representatives, we have set-up a provision with TAPA’s lawyers where you can mail your dues to our legal team and they will deposit for us. Ask Ms. Maria Tam in pilot payroll to send your collected dues to our legal firm, Aero Law Center at KFLL. Include your payroll number. Our dues are calculated from our gross pay, without including per diem or expenses. Please mail your dues check to: Aero Law Center, Attn: TAPA dues, 1100 Lee Wagener Drive, Suite 312, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315. This will maintain your right to vote in TAPA's sanctioned elections.

HOTELS We understand many are disappointed in the SFO hotel location. $5.50 for a pack of Orbit is a great example as to Why. Unfortunately, when the Company elected to circumvent your TAPA infrastructure, there was not much we could do. At the ALPA represented carriers, airlines rely on ALPA Committee structure to support the Chief Pilot decisions and work in cooperation with us. We presently don’t have that level of interaction here.

SURVEY LINK Log on to the TAPA website and click on the message icon to send your thoughts and comments. TAPA is shaping future negotiations and how we will counter with proposals to the Company. Get to know your TAPA. Our merger talks with IBT will always be in the best interests for TAPA pilots and for growth of the Company. Click on the NEWS toolbar for updates.