Trustee Update – June 20, 2025

Allegiant Pilots,

 

Pilots, your Union hears you. Although significant work is happening behind the scenes—including negotiations preparation and strike readiness—I fully recognize that autonomy and self-governance are the immediate goals. That transition begins now. Thanks to the remarkable work of our Union volunteers and our current progress in this Trusteeship, I am taking the following steps to achieve that goal. Over the coming days, I will appoint Allegiant Air pilots to key leadership and operational roles within the Union. This does not replace the upcoming elections, nor is it any political endorsement. These appointments will ensure that capable and dedicated Allegiant Air pilots are in a position to represent your interests and execute the work that must be done to transition to a fully functional, pilot-member-led union.

To that end, I am happy to introduce Captain Rob Skiles as the newest member of the Communications Committee. Captain Skiles will be empowered to deliver timely, clear, and direct updates to our pilots, ensuring that you are informed. Additional appointments are forthcoming.

Concurrently, I will appoint a committee of pilots to focus solely on the Bylaws, the ratification of which is a significant milestone on the path to self-governance. The committee will be tasked with analyzing the pilot survey you just received, and, within the bounds of the IBT Constitution and Mandatory Bylaws, work with the Trustee and IBT to quickly address concerns, or alternatively, explain and clarify why some provisions are required.

Both the bylaws and leadership appointments mark a turning point in the Allegiant Air pilots reclaiming their Union. Even still, our fight for a fair contract, as well as our efforts to defend our current one, are ongoing. Management’s delay tactics during bargaining, their unilateral changes to rules and working conditions, and their support of a decertification/ALPA drive have no chance against a unified pilot group, led by competent and dedicated pilots willing to do the work. If you wish to be a part of this transition and understand the incredible time commitment and sacrifice required to hold a Union position, please send your resume to gunterseher@apa2118.org. Pilots with professional communications, administration, and leadership skills are welcome to apply.

Facts for Your Consideration

Your Healthcare at Risk

What is the value of high-quality, affordable, low-deductible Teamsters-provided TeamCare healthcare for you and your family? Your Union believes that value is virtually immeasurable. The other workgroups that you sponsor, including our Flight Attendants, Sunseeker Resort employees, and other non-Union employees, likely feel the same. Both management and their willing associates organizing the ‘G4P4A/ALPA drive’ are willing to kill access for thousands of hard-working employees simply to further their and management’s self-serving interest in decertifying the IBT. As if their selfish behavior wasn’t enough, they openly lie on their website, claiming that this coverage would continue regardless of Union affiliation. TeamCare disagrees; their direct response to the G4P4A misrepresentation can be read here.

 

Make no mistake, the move to decertify is both reckless and endorsed by management. Certain managers have directly admitted their preference to decertify the IBT. Our Union is not perfect—no organization is—but we are accountable to you. We improve because of your involvement and action. Our Union volunteers work selflessly every day to improve our operation, defend your contract, and protect your job. The path to autonomy and self-governance does not require us to “burn down the entire house just to renovate a room.” Changing the “logo” on the door doesn’t suddenly equal better representation. In this case, it just cedes control to the very individuals who did everything to lose your trust, at the bargaining table and beyond, backed by managers who’ve never had your back in the first place.

We are on a steady path to self-governance. There is absolutely nothing about this faceless, nameless G4P4A campaign that’s worth gambling your healthcare, the Local’s bank account, or your bargaining leverage for. Nothing. Read the TeamCare letters. Know what’s at stake. Then stand together with your pilots who are selflessly standing up for you.

The Nameless and Faceless “ALPA Drive”

Yesterday, the still faceless and nameless “G4P4A Organizing Committee” released yet another anonymous and inaccurate communication regarding their efforts to decertify the IBT. This “committee” is brave enough to put your healthcare and financial future at risk, but not brave enough to put their own names on their communications. They claim they’re strong enough to fight for your rights—yet they can’t even name themselves and take responsibility for their own campaign.

Shamefully, they falsely claim that all they seek is “…a federally supervised election…” and nothing more. Simply “a request for a vote.” That could not be further from the truth. Signing a card triggers a “decertification ballot”, regardless of what misinformation you are fed by those supporting his reckless drive. Beyond their desire to harm the efforts of our Union and its volunteers for selfish reasons, they seek to put your bargaining leverage and Union representation at risk.

As you are aware, management relentlessly disparages your Negotiating Committee and Union volunteers during training events, official communications, and through surrogates on social media who shamelessly spread their false talking points. G4P4A organizers have gone a step further by parroting the same management talking points under the guise of “self-determination” for our pilots. Their messaging and timing are deliberate. There is an active campaign to undermine and weaken your Union’s bargaining efforts to make it easier for their campaign to take hold. We will not allow that to happen.

The communication boldly states, “Lately, you may have heard claims that this effort isn’t real—that it’s being driven by management, or that it lacks support. These kinds of accusations aren’t new …” Incredibly, the letter does not deny that management is supporting the decertification effort. Their omission should be considered an admission. What’s more, despite management’s extreme and concessionary bargaining demands and multi-year campaign to deny Allegiant pilots the contract that you deserve, this nameless “committee” of pilots has not a single criticism of management, nor any plan for how they will bargain for your future or defend your contract.

Your Union does have a vision and plan for the future. Driven solely by the collective power of your membership, your Union will secure the contract you deserve, defend against management violations, and hold management accountable—whether in arbitration or elsewhere. We will implement member-ratified Bylaws and bring the trusteeship to a responsible and necessary end. You will elect an Executive Board from and for the Allegiant pilots. Last but not least, your Union will be ready to take the fight to any person or organization – management, their G4P4A associates, or otherwise– who would attempt to destroy our Union and take us down the path of appeasement, surrender, and management domination.

We continue to receive questions about why we haven’t done more to squash the ALPA drive—message received. Any individual who willfully attempts to harm your bargaining position to advance a management-backed decertification agenda should expect consequences. Every available legal and administrative remedy under the RLA, our bylaws and Constitution, and the full scope of internal disciplinary procedures will be pursued, including charges for actions contrary to the interests of the membership. Your Union will defend itself. And we will not stand idle while anyone—pilot or otherwise—tries to destroy it.

Retention Bonus Dues

I am frequently asked “Will I have to pay dues on my retention bonus?” NO. During the Trusteeship, we have stated that no dues will be deducted. For Example, on a $250,000,000 payout dues would amount to $3,900,000.

 

Fraternally,

Greg Unterseher
Trustee, APA Teamsters Local 2118