Original Message

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)!