January 31, 2008
Captain Jack
Chairman
US Airways Master Executive Council
Air Line Pilots Association
Captain John
Chairman
America West Master Executive Council
Dear John and Jack:
I am writing to thank you both for your support, and that of your fellow officers, for continuing to provide to all US Airways pilots the benefits of ALPA representation. Thank you, John, for the America West MEC resolution passed several weeks ago expressing that support. Jack, thank you for the recent letter from you and your fellow US Airways MEC officers, Kim Allen Snider and Mike D’Angelo.
As the letter from the US Airways MEC officers stated, no elected ALPA representative or ALPA committee member of principle would try to serve two unions. I agree with you that any ALPA pilot who believes that retaining ALPA is not in their best interest should not remain as an elected ALPA representative or ALPA committee member. For ALPA LECs, representatives, or committee members to support another union not only represents acting contrary to the best interests of the Association, it is improper and dishonest.
As I have stated before, the Air Line Pilots Association is fully committed to supporting your efforts with all the resources, both technical and financial, that are necessary for the steering committee members to oversee the development of a comprehensive contract proposal for the joint negotiations–a proposal that advances the issues of both pilot groups, including seniority implementation issues, pay, work rules, benefits, and career security.
We are prepared to confront USAPA’s threat to undercut the efforts of the US Airways pilots and their international union to address the important issues facing all US Airways pilots. All ALPA pilots are committed to standing with our fellow US Airways pilots to assist you in accomplishing your goals. All US Airways pilot representatives, elected and appointed, should do the same. We cannot allow pilots to pose as ALPA representatives while promoting USAPA’s interests by attempting to undermine your efforts to find solutions for your pilots. Those with ulterior motives–who seek the failure of your work in order to advance another agenda–must be called out and held accountable. Under the ALPA Constitution and By-Laws, I have a responsibility to not allow ALPA’s resources and representational status to be misused in such a manner.
Consistent with these responsibilities, I will be personally calling the elected representatives from each of your airlines to discuss this issue and to underscore the importance of their public support for our union–the pilots’ union–at this critical time.
Please be assured that I will take all appropriate action to ensure that our pilots’ resources and ALPA representational status are not improperly utilized against our pilots’ own union.
In solidarity,
Captain John
ALPA President