Welcome, the purpose of this web site is to provide helicopter mechanics with information about the benefits of union representation with the Office and Professional Employees International Union, AFL-CIO, CLC (OPEIU), and the union organizing and collective bargaining processes.

Beginning in 2001, the pilots who work for PHI, Bristow, Ft. Rucker, Air Methods, Careflight, Ornge, CHC Global, and Cougar, voted to be represented by the OPEIU. During their union organizing campaigns, and afterwards, all of the operators they work for mentioned numerous times that they could not afford to pay more for improved wages and benefits. However, all of those pilots, with assistance from the OPEIU, were able to negotiate union contracts providing improved wages and benefits. They also now have several protections they didn’t have before, including the elimination of “At Will” employment and a resolution process that is fair for both pilots and management.

In 2012 the mechanics who work for CHC Global voted to be represented by the OPEIU; and in 2013 the mechanics who work for Bristow and Heli-One voted to be represented by the OPEIU. Despite hearing all of the same antiunion rhetoric that the helicopter pilots heard, those mechanics also were able to negotiate excellent OPEIU union contracts providing improved benefits and job protections.

For too many years the wage and benefit compensation of helicopter mechanics has lagged behind that of airline mechanics,, and helicopter mechanics have never been properly compensated for their special skills and for working in unusual work environments. Unionization is the only mechanism that will provide helicopter mechanics with a united voice regarding improving wages, benefits and working conditions for all helicopter mechanics.