ALPA/USAPA topic of the week

[luvthe9]

Attached are two resolutions adopted by the Executive Council today approving the immediate trusteeship of Local Council 41 pursuant to
Article XIX, Section 1.D of the ALPA Constitution and By-Laws.

The trusteeship of Local Council 41 is in effect immediately, and Captain Clyde Romero and Captain Jack Lawrence have been appointed as trustees for Local Council 41. In accordance with the enclosed resolutions and the ALPA Constitution and By-Laws, you are hereby removed from office and no longer hold office as Local Council 41 officers or status representatives, members of the ALPA US Airways MEC, or members of the ALPA Board of Directors.

You will be afforded the appropriate notice of a hearing to be held
before the Executive Board pursuant to Article XIX, Section 1.D of
the ALPA Constitution and By-Laws.


ALPA will contact you to arrange for the return of all ALPA equipment and other property.


Sincerely,

William R. Couette
Vice President–Administration/Secretary
WRC:sf


Enclosures
cc: AAA MEC
Executive Council
Executive Board
Captain Clyde Romero
Captain Jack Lawrence

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mike]

Socialism alive and well in PHL. Courtesy "The United Republic of ALPA" :down:

 

[EastUS]

The trusteeship of Local Council 41 is in effect immediately, and Captain Clyde Romero and Captain Jack Lawrence have been appointed as trustees for Local Council 41. In accordance with the enclosed resolutions and the ALPA Constitution and By-Laws, you are hereby removed from office and no longer hold office as Local Council 41 officers or status representatives, members of the ALPA US Airways MEC, or members of the ALPA Board of Directors.

You will be afforded the appropriate notice of a hearing to be held
before the Executive Board pursuant to Article XIX, Section 1.D of
the ALPA Constitution and By-Laws.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well...that seems perfectly reasonable. They've been summarilly, and instantly removed, BUT...they "will be afforded the appropriate notice of a hearing to be held..." at some as yet unspecified date, but certainly no sooner than after Hell freezes over. So..the stake burnings happen even before the minor formality of a full Inquisition, and the replacements are naturally not elected, but "appointed". What could possibly be a more reasonable demonstration of "fraternal" democratic "process" that's reflective of the will of the "majority of pilots" than that? I'll admit that some total cynic "might" think that they're merely trying to undermine the toughest local council, and that their willfull aiding and abetting of the ignoring of, and obvious delaying tactics, of a demanded recall consideration in CLT's an example of wishing to keep nothing but devout Alpoid wimps around (their hands suffering palsy from signing so many Loyalty Oaths, their lips drooling Alpoid Koolaide, their noses an unwholesome and permanent "brown"/etc)...but hey..National knows best... How else could they hope to produce some BS "contract offer", or worse, prior to the election date?..most certainly not based on the actual will of the pilots, don't be foolish....and naturally; ALL for "the common good"

One thing should finally be clear to anyone even the least bit interested in EVER seeing any actual represenatation of line pilots' wishes. = These pompous Alpa slime-balls have..GOT....to...GO!!!

 

[Irideover]

The trusteeship of Local Council 41 is in effect immediately, and Captain Clyde Romero and Captain Jack Lawrence have been appointed as trustees for Local Council 41.


Both proud members of the ACPC....what a surprise...not!

 

[luvthe9]

I smell a big MIKE TOSI.

 

[AAA73Pilot]

......but hey..National knows best... How else could they hope to produce some BS "contract offer", or worse, prior to the election date?..and ALL for "the common good"

One thing should be clear to anyone the least bit interested in ever seeing any actual represenatation of line pilots' wishes. = These scumbags have..GOT....to...GO!!!

Can ALPA impose a new contract while the property is in dispute? I think they can continue negotiations. Even come to an agreement with the company, but can it be presented for a vote or imposed? Or do they have to wait until the election is over?

BTW. National knows no bounds of stupidity. Thanks for swinging the election.

 

[EastUS]

The trusteeship of Local Council 41 is in effect immediately, and Captain Clyde Romero and Captain Jack Lawrence have been appointed as trustees for Local Council 41.


Both proud members of the ACPC....what a surprise...not!

On that note: I'm expecting Pollock to be appointed head of retirement benefits

 

[nostradamus]

You should have no fear because the East usairways leader, is watching our six.


east alpa rep next to west fo rep hire in 2004 that the nic award says should be in front of east pilot 1987. Looks like your alpa dues are being put to good work, they do look WELL fed, click here.

 

[AAA73Pilot]

The trusteeship of Local Council 41 is in effect immediately, and Captain Clyde Romero and Captain Jack Lawrence have been appointed as trustees for Local Council 41.
Both proud members of the ACPC....what a surprise...not!

From the concerned _______ (insert favorite descriptive) pilots web site'

I would love to be at the next council meeting, if there is one.

 

[EastUS]

Can ALPA impose a new contract while the property is in dispute? I think they can continue negotiations. Even come to an agreement with the company, but can it be presented for a vote or imposed? Or do they have to wait until the election is over?

BTW. National knows no bounds of stupidity. Thanks for swinging the election.

Umm...err...they've never seemed none too fussy about little things like "legalities" or accountability to the membership in general. The only "little hurdle" I can see's the "small problem" with needing membership ratification...and I'd guess that they're "working on that" as assiduously as possible, to seek some way around it...and I don't think they've sufficent time in any case. Imho = They've just nailed their own coffins shut though, and are simply performing the desperate flailings of a drowning animal. I don't think we owe them anything for kicking any supposed "fence-sitters" off, but; We certainly should thank them for so clearly demonstrating their utter contempt for democratic principles in general, the will of the line pilots, and their true Alpoid "principles" and actual agendas at work, for all to see

Let's VOTE!!!!!

 

[nostradamus]

NMB complaints about the non alpa Continental pilots union that john prater (well fed alpa "leader" now ) was vice president of in 2000 when he used unscrupulous tactics to force alpa union to the Continental pilots.


Complaint I asserts eight claims concerning merger process which the complaint argues constitute "fraud and gross abuse." Broadly, the claims are as follows:

* IACP "officials used union assets to promote ALPA."

* IACP officials were reimbursed for flight loss pay by ALPA. (1)

* IACP elected officials used their positions to condone and approve the merger, and thereby improperly influenced the rank-and-file.

* IACP officials failed or refused "to obtain a showing of interest from the members for ALPA" prior to forcing the merger election.

* IACP officials created "hurdles" and "roadblocks," including a "censorship committee," to suppress the interests of the employees opposed to the merger and who "want[ed] to maintain the status-quo with IACP."

* IACP officials failed "to examine the financial books of ALPA" in a manner that satisfied a "due diligence" requirement.

* The merger agreement violates ALPA's constitution and by-laws.

* IACP officials "may have doctored the books to preclude a refund to agency-shop fee payers for non-germane expenses."

 

[AAA73Pilot]

FYI:

ALPA’s Constitution and By-Laws were the vehicles used by the executive council’s latest attack to muscle their way into PHL by declaring “Trusteeshipâ€, thereby forcing the replacement of the three elected representatives. The response from the PHL based ALPA membership was an overwhelming display of support for the work done by these three elected representatives and the largest anti-ALPA showing since the representational status of ALPA was first challenged earlier this year. The very survival of ALPA at US Airways is hinged in this conflict. The election begins March 20, 2008.

Amid numerous accusations of ALPA’s official misconduct are some eye opening examples ranging in severity from intentional violation of the Federal Anti-Spamming laws to willful and intentional election manipulation at US Airways MEC. It seems the ALPA executive council has been unwilling to let the established democratic process
guide the progress at US Airways. ALPA has been actively impeding the implementation of numerous approved resolutions and went as far as to impose a 3-man negotiating team to replace the otherwise authority of the elected representatives from all US Airways bases. The 3-man negotiating team has subsequently failed.

On March 3, 2008, the executive council met to implement administrative action referred to as Art XIX Sec 1D of the ALPA Constitution and By Laws. The result is that ALPA has charged the 3 PHL elected representative with failure to pledge allegiance to ALPA. On March 2, 2008, ALPA President John Prater received correspondence stating the charge was false and that the 3 elected representatives have done nothing to suggest or imply that they don’t support ALPA. The result of the executive board’s actions today are expected to have serious consequences for ALPA as they desperately try to retain their representational status at US Airways. The NMB has ruled that a dispute exists and has ordered an election to begin March 20, 2008.

Reaction to the executive board’s action was powerful. The web boards flooded with letters of discontent for ALPA’s actions and volumes of emails were received pledging support for the 3 elected representations.

It was noted that this is a particularly curious time for the executive council to refer to the ALPA Constitution and By-Laws for support of their current activity. Much of the discontent with ALPA at US Airways stems from the executive council’s long history of disregarding their own Constitution and By-Laws. Examples include failure to obtain membership ratification during loss of the pilot pension plan, failure to obtain membership ratification for an agreement that significantly impacted the pay and working conditions of active US Airways pilots who flew the E-170 fleet type, and failure to disallow a windfall for the America West pilots at seniority arbitration.

Perhaps the most insurmountable obstacle to ever stand in the way of ALPA’s ability to provide leadership is the result of the ALPA sponsored arbitration known as the “Nicolau Awardâ€. This arbitration effectively destroyed up to twenty years of seniority for the pilots at US Airways and allowed for America West pilots who were still within their probationary first year to be suddenly more senior than a twenty year US Airways pilot. Among the many issues of this controversy is that this Award violated ALPA’s own policy against any one side receiving a ‘windfall’ at the expense of the other side.

ALPA defends their position by stating they can not define a Windfall and have stated that a windfall is in the eye of the beholder. The ALPA membership is not buying it. This comes at a time when all other labor unions at US Airways (flight attendants, dispatchers, mechanics, etc) have successfully achieved a Date-of-Hire seniority agreement. ALPA is the only one who failed to achieve Date-of-Hire.

Complicating the situation for ALPA is the popularity of the rival representational agency known as USAPA. USAPA has a published Constitution and By-Laws that puts respect back into the hearts and minds of the pilots at US Airways. USAPA scholars have studied the woes and failures of ALPA and have crystallized a solution that appears very popular with most of the pilot membership. They present themselves as Pilot Advocates and have a proposed solution available for all the major problems currently hammering ALPA which includes the Nicolau Award.

ALPA has opposed USAPA’s plan as unobtainable and has tried desperately to discredit the organization by making incredulous slandering remarks against the credibility of USAPA and its legal team. USAPA reacts to such accusations with calm and presents fact filled documentation supporting their claims. The USAPA legal team is considered one of the best in the world by most. This legal team was also involved in the highly successful break away from ALPA by the American Airlines pilots. American now enjoys the peace and security of an in-house union. Similarly, the pilots of Southwest Airlines are happily represented by their in-house union. USAPA hopes to secure the same for the pilots of US Airways.

A snap-shot in time, taken today, would show an incredibly horrific picture of labor relations at US Airways. These US Airways (East) pilots have lost their defined benefit pension plan and have the worst contract of any major airline. The working conditions are so fatiguing that it is the subject of a California study currently in progress. The potential to lose 20 years of seniority exists. All of this (and much more) was done under the direct watch of ALPA.

US Airways does have the potential to be one of the best airlines in the world. The route structure is phenomenal and the experience level of the pilot group is second to none. The concept of ‘take care of your people and they will take care of you’ has not yet reached the working model. The priority has not been there because the balance is very one sided. When you have union leadership doing business dealings with company management it is hard to have the required balance.

The balanced equation includes management doing what they need to do and the labor union doing what it needs to do to assure competitive rates and conditions. This situation does not currently exist under ALPA’s representation at US Airways. It is perhaps too late for ALPA to make the required changes so the pilots look toward a new horizon; USAPA.

The leadership within USAPA has declared a pledge of allegiance to the pilots and remains focused on avoiding any similarity with ALPA. Their educational focus has remained firmly implanted in the facts that ALPA often tries to conceal such as the ALPA executive council’s enormous salary and bonus combo exceeding $450,000 per year per council member plus a secure pension!

So how will US Airways pilots survive without all this overhead to support? The exact same way as American Airlines pilots and Southwest Airlines pilots currently survive: happy, well paid, and well represented on all levels.

So, what’s the next move for ALPA? Many believe they will fill the vacancies now created by their strong arm tactics and use those replacements to re-elect MEC officers who would have otherwise been voted out of office. Complaints are being prepared for the Dept of Labor requesting investigation into violations of the Landrum-Griffin Act. The problems just seem to get worse and worse for ALPA.

Representatives from other airlines (both ALPA and non-ALPA carriers) have expressed great interest in what is happening at US Airways. The world has changed considerable and yet it’s nothing more than business as usual for ALPA. One can’t help wondering how they survived this long and who will be next on the list of carriers pushing away from ALPA and it’s long list of failures.

But a new day is dawning at US Airways and, like a breath of fresh air; USAPA is prepared to lead the way into the future. Their first order of business is the permanent shelving of the Nicolau Award; something ALPA leadership has stated that ALPA can’t do because they were a party to the binding arbitration. Many have stated only a new representational agency at US Airways can successfully cure the ills of a failed ALPA and bring forth the hope for a prosperous future. The election starts March 20th

 

[AAA73Pilot]

FYI:

MEC News Direct #2
March 3, 2008

Item 1. The MEC convened its first quarter MEC meeting this morning in CLT by receiving the Officer reports from MEC Chairman Jack Stephan, Vice Chairman Kim Snider, and Secretary-Treasurer Mike D’Angelo and also a report by the members of the Negotiating Committee. The MEC spent the remainder of the day processing items in subcommittee.

Tomorrow, March 4th, the meeting will reconvene at 9 a.m. Pilots are especially encouraged to attend the meeting tomorrow. At 9:30 a.m., the period for pilots in good standing to address the MEC in person or by phone on issues of their own choosing is scheduled. If you are interested, the Communications Committee has posted a call-in instruction sheet under What's New and has also emailed this sheet to all pilots with the details on how you can participate.

Also scheduled for tomorrow is a Merger Committee presentation and a 1 p.m. update from ALPA National’s Economic and Financial Analysis Department concerning industry consolidation. A reception and dinner will also be held tomorrow night from 6 to 9 p.m. Pilots are invited to bring their spouses or significant others and will get the opportunity to talk to the members of the MEC. It will be a good time to ask the MEC questions you may have or to hear their perspectives on current events.

The meeting is being held at the Hilton Charlotte Executive Park, located at 5624 Westpark Drive, Charlotte, NC. The phone number for transportation is 704-527-8000.

Item 2. US Airways sent out a CBS Message to all pilots on February 29th saying that as expected, they received a one-year extension to the deadline to add the "English Proficiency" endorsement to pilots’ FAA certificates. The new deadline will now be March 5, 2009.

This is simply amazing. A council is put into trusteeship and there is no mention of it by the MEC news!! I guess if you ignore it, it didn't happen. ALPA speak for I got mine.

 

[dariencc]

Personally I never heard of Jack. Maybe he's incognito

Jack Lawrence..........former New York Air.

 

[EastUS]

FYI:



This is simply amazing. A council is put into trusteeship and there is no mention of it by the MEC news!! I guess if you ignore it, it didn't happen. ALPA speak for I got mine.

Pretty much I'd ofer a suggestion for any able to attend that CLT meeting = Ever-so-gently inquire of them: "How-tha'-HeII come" the recall request against their sorry arses, dating back to freaking DECEMBER!...isn't ANYWHERE to be found on the "agenda"? I guess that, if it's ignored, it doesn't exist either I've seen their pathetic correspondance that amounts to nothing more than: "We've asked Alpo Notional...and they say that it's within their little rules to just blow the requested recall off for as long as we possibly can". This, at time when Herndon's removing actually elected Reps, and now "appointing" suppossed "Reps" to PHL at their slightest whim...words don't fully serve here...

These pompous, and fully duplicitous Alpoids have all GOT...to...GO!!!