Never More Important than Now to Gain IAM Representation

​We are making great progress and are moving closer to filing for an election to gain IAM representation during this very unstable time in our industry and our profession. Without a seat at the table, Republic Airways management has and will continue to have total power to dictate to us what will happen after October 1st. After October 1st is the date when the CARES Act protections expire. Republic management on that date will have complete authority to slash our jobs according to the rules that Republic management dictates.  However, if we can gain IAM representation before that date, we will have the ability to have a legal say in future of our careers here at Republic and, in the short term, what happens after October 1st.
 
It is vital that we act now to submit our election authorization cards, so we can gain the right to a vote. If we can file for our vote in July, we can definitely be in a position to win IAM representation and have the full force of the Machinists Union behind us as we enter a very a very uncertain time this fall. 
 
The following is a simple timeline of events from when we file for our election and what we can accomplish before October 1st:
 

1. File our election authorization cards with the National Mediation Board (NMB), a federal agency as soon as possible.
2. The NMB will then decide whether we have enough cards—at least 50% of our work group—to have an election.
   1. This should only take a couple of weeks since our workgroup is relatively small.
3. Once the NMB determines that we have enough authorization cards submitted, the agency will then schedule an election.
4. The election, due to the size of our work group, will last a couple of weeks. We will be able to vote by internet and phone.
5. The votes are then tabulated on the final day electronically. We will know the results that day. Usually at 2:15 PM EDT the day the vote closes.
6. Once the IAM is certified as the legally recognized bargaining agent, we will immediately reach out to Republic Airways management to schedule meetings with management to address the immediate needs of our workgroup (job security, seniority rights, right to recall to our jobs if laid off and other protections which are needed immediately).
7. It is not uncommon for a union and a company to agree to certain terms before a full contract is negotiated.
   1. For example, newly organized groups in many cases have negotiated a legally binding grievance procedure before a full contract is executed, or the right for new members to utilize union bulletin boards to post union communications.
8. The IAM will then survey the membership to find out what our group would like to see in a contract.
9. We would elect our AMT union representatives and start the process of creating a negotiations committee. 

 
As you can see, we can and will have a real opportunity to protect our careers at Republic Airways. But the only way to do that is by having a legal seat at the table.
 
Please sign and submit your a-card today. If you don’t have a card, please request one here, fill out the online form and we will mail one out to you asap. When you get it in the mail, please fill out the card, sign and date it and drop it in the mail using the postage paid business reply envelope. 
 
Let’s Do This.
 

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