PRESIDENT'S DEPARTMENT
AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION, INTERNATIONAL
October 1, 2007
Captain Jack Stephan, Chairman US Airway MEC
Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l
One Thom Run Center, Suite 400
1187 Thorn Run Road
Coraopolis, PA. 15108
Dear Jack:
Since the day the seniority award was announced, the Executive Council, other national officers, and I have worked tirelessly with you, your MEC, and line pilots to try to find positive solutions that would provide career protection, economic gains, and quality-of-life improvements for all US Airways pilots. I hope you would be the first to say that we have never given up on the US Airways pilots and have provided every possible avenue for you and your MEC to be heard.
The numerous individual and joint MEC meetings, crew room visits, domicile meetings, as well as meetings of the Joint Negotiating Committee, the Rice Committee, and, ultimately, the Executive Council, led to. the Executive Council resolutions affirming ALPA's positions regarding this situation, which we all must now abide by. This is why I am very concerned with the outcome of recent meetings of your MEC and am writing to request that you immediately call a special MEC meeting, to be held no later than October 8, to deal with these critical matters.
Let me be clear: Prompt corrective action by the MEC is necessary for compliance with fundamental obligations under our Constitution and By-Laws and policies with respect to the AAA-AWA merger. This is also required to overcome the MEC's failure to respond to and defend against efforts by an independent organization (USAPA) to displace the Association as bargaining representative.
I have attempted to work out these matters and would have much preferred that the MEC act on its own initiative, without my request. But at this point the combination of action and inaction on the part of the MEC exposes the Association to truly detrimental consequences.
With respect to the AAA-AWA merger, it is time for the MEC to comply with its representational and legal obligations under the Constitution & By-Laws, ALPA Merger Policy, the Transition Agreement, and implementing resolutions of the Executive Council. The MEC; at this meeting, should adopt a resolution (or resolutions) reversing all prior efforts to bar or precondition the continuation of joint negotiations. The MEC should also direct the US Airways members of the Joint Negotiating Committee to resume their full participation in the negotiation of a single agreement covering the merged operation of US Airways and America West, including both parity and parity plus as provided in the Executive Council resolution of September 20, 2007.
Since the Executive Council has determined that there is no ground under ALPA Merger Policy to set aside the seniority award, the MEC should also adopt a resolution recognizing that the award is to be included in the single agreement to be negotiated under the Transition Agreement and Merger Policy, provided only that the Association and all MECs will comply with valid court orders, if any, affecting the terms of the award.
The Rice Committee will continue to work with the MECs and Joint Negotiating Committee to implement this process. You may also wish to contact Captain Mcllvenna to invite the AWA MEC to meet with the AAA MEC to discuss tern's for implementation either before or after the AAA MEC meeting.
It is also time for the US Airways MEC to assume its basic responsibility for defending against the USAPA raid. MEC members are not only status representatives-they are also members of the ALPA Board of Directors-with the clear obligation to preserve ALFA representation for the US Airways pilots.
As of today, the MEC has failed to adopt a single resolution or send a single communication speaking out against this raid. Indeed, to the contrary, some MEC members appear to be at least refusing to support the Association and even expressing support for the USAPA effort. I request that the MEC adopt a resolution expressing full and unreserved support for the continuation of ALFA representation along with continued efforts to resolve all collective bargaining and seniority issues within the Association.
I am ready to have the Association staff assist with making any logistical, travel, hotel, and meeting room arrangements for this special MEC meeting. You are, of course, welcome to hold the meeting at our Washington, D.C., or Herndon offices, and I look forward to having the opportunity to discuss with the MEC any questions concerning the actions set forth in this letter.
I look forward to your positive response and to the outcome of the special MEC meeting so that we can turn our attention to the important work of completing this merger and negotiating a single agreement that will provide very significant improvements in pay, benefits, and career protection to all US Airways pilots. These goals can be achieved only if we work together to preserve Association representation for the entire US Airways pilot group.
In Unity,
Captain John Prater President
cc: • Executive Council Executive Board
Having personally done NOTHING that actually caused the earth's rotation, and merely participated as hostage workers/observers in the unfolding sunrise wouldn't likely deter them from taking any "Rigtheous Position" 😉
