We are now aware that OPEIU never actually applied for same class and craft recognition. Instead, OPEIU applied for and were awarded recognition in a separate class of "Instructor Pilot."

Regardless of what OPEIU "applied for", they are clearly a different class and craft from the line pilots.   Always have been, always will be!

OPEIU simply needs to give these pilots their own Local designation and allow them to govern themselves free from 109 or any other local they don't belong in!

Elect their own Board/Officers, keep their funds separate, negotiate their own contract, and not become an appendage to someone else!  

It is obvious OPEIU and Local 109 are not your friends.  Local 109 is a local for line pilots, not instructors, with a clear conflict of interest.   And, it is clear OPEIU itself could care less about you in general.   So, the easy soluiton is to simply decertify the OPEIU altogether and appoint yourselves as an independant union force.  It isn't hard to do.   And, it doesn't cost you the thousand and thousands you are being lied to about either.

Your strengh is in you being a class/craft.

NMB can decertify the OPEIU and certify youselves, giving you all the same "powers" you have with any union to negotiate your contract.

The procedures to do so are on the NMB website and easy to follow.   It only takes 50%+1 of you to accomplish this with a card signing effort (same effort it took to get OPEIU on the ballot).   Since you are a small group centrally located, it shouldn't be much trouble to show OPEIU the ropes!

And, it doesn't cost $5000 to $10000 per negotiation session either!   NMB does/will accomodate you and your "budget" (or lack thereof)!

... none of the instructors wanted to be appended to Local 109 or any local from the start!

group centrally located..."

Nope.  That's the very big stick in the mud!  Don't underestimate it irrespective of your two dimensional logic.

Aside from this subject think as to whether the airlines are actually going to continue expansion and all sorts of good for all.  Personally I don't see it and wonder how a potential contraction might affect the helicopter industry.  Talking now up to 2050.

Thank you. I have been saying that for years. Based on that revelation, you can deduce that naturally, I agree with you.

Office professionals have little to nothing in common with pilots. Office professionals in the OPEIU know nothing about pilots, don't care to know anything about pilots, and couldn't care less about pilots, except for their dues, and keeping their pilot's mouth shut like good little union knobs. They couldn't represent pilots properly, or competently even if they wanted to.

ALPA, or some other like minded union would be a much better fit. 

Next time, I will tell you how I really feel.

Everybody always says this: "ALPA would have been a much better fit." Such a dumb thing to say. I hate to break this to you, but OPEIU was not anyone's first choice of union representation. ALPA (wisely) wanted nothing to do with helicopter pilots. And yes, they were asked. What other options were there? OPEIU spent a lot of their own time, effort and money to organize the GOM pilots. It was not something the pilots could have done themselves. 

post.  Good on ya.