Nov/Dec 2013 Pilot Discussion

[westcoastflyer]

Does anybody have any credible Information, without the usual wisecracks, if the meeting happened yesterday in Washington without USAPA? If so, what transpired?

 

[Claxon]

Will the scabs PLEASE let you on the merger committee?

"I was hired and began my wonderful Frontier experience on
Oct 3, 1978. I ended up my initial class as an Otter F/O in BIL,
and even made "Queen For A Day" (Capt. for 1 month) until the
bean counter Glen Ryland started messing things up. It was a
wonderful place to start, flying the hi-line with all of it's history.
When the Otters went away I went to DEN and CV580 school
as an F/O. I really enjoyed that experience. When the CV580s
disappeared I finally got to fly "The Jet" as an F/O. Another
wonderful experience. When the MD80s came I was fortunate
to bid and be a lineholder as an F/O. I thought I's died & gone
to heaven, flight guidance, auto throttle, quiet, fast, Wow!
 
Then airline flying as I knew it died. The company and people
I "grew up" with was no more. Oh sure, I got a job with America
West in PHX along with 15-20 other Frontier pilots but it was
sickening after working with such a company of professionals at
FAL to have to wallow in an operational pig pen who thought
they (AWA) had all the answers.
The only saving grace initially was all of the FAL pilots
encouraged and supported each other through the humiliation we
were subjected to. We were told that FAL failed because of our
unions and a whole lot of other ridiculous accusations.
(Remember AWA started out with 31 scab Wien pilots as their
initial base of pilots)
To make a long story short most of the FAL pilots just kept our
mouths shut and our dignity, and supported each other. I made
it 14 years there, twelve as a captain and the last 3 as captain/
check airman before forced to retire medically.
 
I will always appreciate the Frontier family. I feel fortunate to
have worked for a real airline and with a group of people
unequalled in the airline industry."
 
Glenn Stephens, Shell Knob MO

 

[Phoenix]

.... All of legal, the Officers, All the BPR, and 75% or our pilots deemed the best course was the bird in the hand....
 
[SIZE=10.5pt]RR[/SIZE]

 
 
Yes, sort of.  The bird in hand was CoC...  Doug offered to let us have a different bird if we gave up the one in hand.  🙂
 
To be clear all of the above accepted the first offer management proffered for us to waive CoC.  Some think the disagreement was about giving up CoC.  The disagreement was about whether management was lying to us (or "negotiating" with us if one prefers a more genteel characterization).
 
It will never be known if management would have found it expedient to give us a second offer if we had required it of them, as even retro pay was evidently really part of the first offer, unbeknownst to all but the inside players.  
 
Some got to the deal first by going ugly early, or maybe they are heroes... but one thing is clear management has our waiver of CoC (they flaunted it immediately, so to speak) and it is one of the most clearcut, undebatable provisions in the MOU.  Much of everything else is being debated, will take time to implement, and will be the genesis of grievances (the first grievance has already been filed), while all three pilot groups receive different compensation for the same work.  
 
Even so its our contract.  We debate what we learned from the experience.  And we move on. 🙂

 

[Reed Richards]

 

[SIZE=14pt]Are you about to elect a PHX pilot as your next USAPA President?  If you don't vote in this election, that's exactly what will happen![/SIZE]​

 




Pilot Voters, 
 
[SIZE=medium]Fellow pilots, have you ever looked at the election statistics for recent USAPA elections? There is a powerful lesson in those statistics if you take the time to look at them.[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=medium]In the last several elections the voter turnout[/SIZE]
[SIZE=medium]has been very low.  The lower the voter turnout, the easier it becomes for a small cohesive group to win the election.  With the typically low turnout at unscheduled elections such as this one, it is very likely that your union's leadership and committee structure will be handed to the West just as we begin the seniority integration process.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=medium]PHX is a large, cohesive group! The recall ballot currently underway has opened the door to have a West pilot elected as USAPA's President. [/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=medium]How is this possible?  Keep reading:[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=medium]In the last CLT domicile election, Ron Nelson was elected by 353 votes or 37.28%, Courtney Borman was elected by 321 votes or 33.9% and Chairman Bob Frear was elected on the first ballot with 380 votes.[/SIZE]
 

[SIZE=medium]These votes are from CLT, the largest domicile with  [/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]1384 Members in good standing... only 48.3% of the eligible members bothered to vote. [/SIZE]​

 
[SIZE=medium]A repeat of that poor turnout virtually guarantees that the West pilots will be negotiating the terms of our seniority integration with APA! Think about that for a moment. If this recall effort succeeds, we will have to elect a new president. A decision not to vote in that election is a vote for a West President![/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=medium]The Phoenix pilots have historically been well-organized. They have had[/SIZE]
[SIZE=medium]very high voter turnout[/SIZE], and have usually cast their 1000+ votes for a
[SIZE=medium]single candidate.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=medium]The East pilots have historically had much lower voter turnout and several candidates on the ballot.  Thus each candidate captures only a fraction of the few votes that are cast. [/SIZE]
  
[SIZE=medium]We could very easily end up with Eric Ferguson, founder of the Army of Leonidas, as the next USAPA President. The President appoints and removes committee members.  Who do you think is going to be negotiating your seniority when that happens? [/SIZE]
 

[SIZE=medium]Answer: it will be the West pilots negotiating for the Nicolau Award, and there won't be a thing you can do to stop it at that point.[/SIZE]​

 
[SIZE=medium]What a shame it would be to say goodbye to everything we've fought for these past several years. All because some of us didn't bother to vote when it really mattered!   [/SIZE]
     

[SIZE=14pt]Vote NO RECALL and NO Roll Call[/SIZE]​

 ​

[SIZE=medium]Vote like your seniority depends on it.  [/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]Because IT DOES![/SIZE]​

 
 




 
[SIZE=medium]Joe Votes No[/SIZE]
[SIZE=medium]So should you![/SIZE]


 
 

 

[Reed Richards]

 

[SIZE=14pt]Secret Negotiations?[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]Paul DiOrio Says;[/SIZE]
 

[SIZE=medium]"Hummel has lost the majority of the BPR's support because he has been running the union without their input, conducting meetings and negotiations without their knowledge, being less than truthful, breaking internal union rules and repeatedly disregarding their proper call for Special Meetings, a key component of providing you representation on time-sensitive issues. In summary, he has been demonstrating the same secretive behavior and non-inclusiveness that destroyed so much when ALPA was on property[/SIZE]...." blah blah blah.​

 ​

[SIZE=medium]This delusional rant from Paul DiOrio, and the pathetic sheep aimlessly following the heard, is ridiculous.[/SIZE]

1. [SIZE=medium]A.[/SIZE]     [SIZE=medium]What specifically has Gary negotiated?  [/SIZE]
2. [SIZE=medium]B.[/SIZE]     [SIZE=medium]Does Gary have to advise the BPR of every conversation and phone call he has as the President of the Association?  OF course not...Nor does the BPR have to notify him of the same[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Let's compare and contrast the USAPA Constitution and the Governance of ALPA: [/SIZE]
 

 ​

[SIZE=medium]USAPA[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]ALPA[/SIZE]​

National Officers


[SIZE=medium]Directly elected by membership[/SIZE]


[SIZE=medium]Elected by Delegates[/SIZE]


MEC Officers


[SIZE=medium]Directly elected by membership[/SIZE]


[SIZE=medium]Elected by the MEC[/SIZE]


Authorize negotiations


[SIZE=medium]President has no authorization, the BPR authorizes[/SIZE]


[SIZE=medium]Only president can authorize[/SIZE]


Ratification


[SIZE=medium]Only the USAPA membership can ratify an agreement.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=medium]The ALPA Negotiating Committee can ratify without pilot input.[/SIZE]


Signing


[SIZE=medium]The USAPA president MUST sign a valid member ratified agreement.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=medium]The ALPA president can refuse to sign an agreement.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]The above comparison is not to bash ALPA; rather it is to make the reader aware that:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]The USAPA constitution prevents the President from individually conducting negotiations and if he did the resultant agreement is not valid. [/SIZE]​

 
 
[SIZE=medium]The approved process under USAPA is:[/SIZE]

• [SIZE=medium]Through their elected representatives (BPR), The pilots convey their needs[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=medium]The NAC and Professional Negotiator negotiate.[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=medium]The BPR accepts or rejects the agreement. [/SIZE]
• [SIZE=medium]The line Pilots Ratify or reject the agreement.   [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]As for our MOU, [/SIZE]

1. [SIZE=medium]1.[/SIZE]     [SIZE=medium]The membership wanted to pursue the merger and a seat at the table.[/SIZE]
2. [SIZE=medium]2.[/SIZE]     [SIZE=medium]The BPR Charged the NAC and sent the NAC to negotiate[/SIZE]
3. [SIZE=medium]3.[/SIZE]     [SIZE=medium]The NAC negotiated it. [/SIZE]
4. [SIZE=medium]4.[/SIZE]     [SIZE=medium]The BPR unanimously recommended it to the membership. [/SIZE]
5. [SIZE=medium]5.[/SIZE]     [SIZE=medium]The NAC. conducted extensive Road Shows. [/SIZE]
6. [SIZE=medium]6.[/SIZE]     [SIZE=medium]There were open question and answer sessions.  [/SIZE]
7. [SIZE=medium]7.[/SIZE]     [SIZE=medium]Differing opinions, such as those of our Grievance Chairman, were given full time at these meetings. Yes even the opposition voices were heard! [/SIZE]
8. [SIZE=medium]8.[/SIZE]    [SIZE=medium]The line Pilots ratified the MOU by a wide margin.[/SIZE]
9. [SIZE=medium]9.[/SIZE]     [SIZE=medium]Then and only then[/SIZE] did, President Gary Hummel signs the MOU agreement as the legal representative of the Association.    

[SIZE=14pt]So, where are the secret negotiations???[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=10pt]They keep beating that drum because under ALPA, that's the kind of kind of thing could happen[/SIZE][SIZE=medium].[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=14pt]Could it be the PHL and CLT Reps selling out to the West for a couple of dirty votes? [/SIZE]​

 ​

[SIZE=14pt]

[/SIZE] ​

 




[SIZE=10pt]Joe Votes No[/SIZE]


 

 

[Reed Richards]

[SIZE=10pt]

[/SIZE]​

Attention Voter
 

[SIZE=18pt]PAUL DiORIO... UNION BUSTER[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]Fellow Pilots[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=medium]Let's just set the record straight about DiOrio.  DiOrio was hired in 89 and furloughed in 91.  He was recalled in 92 and got himself a job as a Boston ALPA MEC rep.  He was furloughed again in 03.  DiOrio was pounding nails and going to night school when he was again recalled in in September of 07 and immediately started campaigning for a new job with USAPA.  He became the union NAC Chairman 9 months later, the normal gestation period for hatching an idiot.  Hummel fires him from his union job in 2012 and it takes him another 9 months to gestate his plan and get a union job back as the PHL rep.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=medium]So let's see...of the 15 years DiOrio has been on the property he's spent 2 of them flying airplanes and the rest of the time sucking up on the ALPA and USAPA tit.  His Results?  He voted as the Boston rep to allow negotiations in January of 2002 for more RJ's at the regionals.  Then he gets furloughed, and then recalled, then immediately gets himself a union job with USAPA to negotiate and gets us PARKED with the NMB. [/SIZE]
 
  

Date Paid​

[SIZE=medium]PAUL DiOrio[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]PAID TO[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]HOURS FLOWN[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]HOURS PAID[/SIZE]​

10-Jan​

[SIZE=medium]767I[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]85[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]2.51[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]82.82[/SIZE]​

10-Feb​

[SIZE=medium]767I[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]95[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]0[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]95.00[/SIZE]​

10-Mar​

[SIZE=medium]767I[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]95[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]5.8[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]89.33[/SIZE]​

10-Apr​

[SIZE=medium]767I[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]95[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]0[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]95.00[/SIZE]​

10-May​

[SIZE=medium]767I[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]95[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]2.9[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]92.17[/SIZE]​

10-Jun​

[SIZE=medium]767I[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]95[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]0[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]95.00[/SIZE]​

10-Jul​

[SIZE=medium]767I[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]95[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]0[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]90.00[/SIZE]​

10-Aug​

[SIZE=medium]767I[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]90[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]0[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]90.00[/SIZE]​

10-Sep​

[SIZE=medium]767I[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]90[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]0[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]90.00[/SIZE]​

10-Oct​

[SIZE=medium]767I[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]90[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]5.8[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]84.33[/SIZE]​

10-Nov​

[SIZE=medium]767I[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]90[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]11.6[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]78.67[/SIZE]​

10-Dec​

[SIZE=medium]767I[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]90[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]0[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=medium]90.00[/SIZE]​

 
 
 

 ​

[SIZE=11pt]DiOrio was actually paid by USAPA 32% more that the pilot one number senior to him.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=medium]There is no need to look at further pay data because DiOrio never turned the wheel again.  He went for 26 months as an AB F/O and was getting paid 767 pay to the CAP.  He did not fly for 26 months and went to the simulator every 90 to get 3 bounces.[/SIZE]
 

[SIZE=medium]WHAT HAS PAUL DiOrio REALLY BEEN UP TO?[/SIZE]​

 ​

[SIZE=medium]Here is his website. Not a great resume builder for Paul to be fired from the USAPA NAC job only to have the new NAC get a contract.  YA think Paul might be pissed off?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=medium]DiOrio was on furlough when the NIC was announced and Bradford saved his ass.  Now he throws Bradford under the bus to protect his own career.  Priceless...[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=16pt]http://www.wfsg.pro/http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FcB3...Urm60r2wRB25Nw7oBurqJoR-pTI_aLMq3R8lO2HJA-A==[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=11pt]

[/SIZE] 
[SIZE=10pt]Let's see,.... "Providing direction and guidance for all your HR, labor, safety & employee needs."  Doesn't that sound a union busting type of business?   Isn't that someplace where Jerry Glass might work? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Consultants[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]WorkForce Solutions Group, LLP has assembled a team of professionals who have diverse and complimentary experience. Our team has amassed more than 150 years of experience in all matters related to labor relations, human resources and safety.[/SIZE]
 
 
 
[SIZE=10pt]Partners:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Tracy L. Parrella, SPHR[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Celeste Andreassi-Hutchens, ASP[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Associates:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]John M. Brookman, MSW, LSW, DOT SAP[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Catherine McHale, CP & Legal Administrator[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Dennis Brennan, HR & Labor Generalist[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Of Council:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Paul J. DiOrio, Esq.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]Assistant General Counsel[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]WorkForce Solutions Group, LLP[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Paul J. DiOrio, Esq. is Assistant General Counsel for WorkForce Solutions Group, LLP. Paul's primary responsibility is in providing oversight and direction of the firm's negotiation, mediation and dispute resolution practices. He is also responsible for ensuring adherence to state and federal labor laws for our client's.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10pt]Paul comes to WorkForce Solutions Group with an extensive background in the area of labor/management relations, which includes twenty years of alternative dispute resolution experience.  Mr. DiOrio has represented clients in both contractual disputes and disciplinary matters. Additionally, he has extensive experience before a myriad of System Board of Adjustments, under the Railway Labor Act, both as a witness and an advocate. Paul's forte is in analysis and then presentation of complex mathematical equations pertaining to the evaluations related to the way and manor in which our client's employees work. He has extensive mediation experience regarding industry standard pay and work rule calculations which permit employers to maintain a competitive cost advantage in specific industries.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Paul obtained a Bachelor of Science in Aviation from Bridgewater State College[/SIZE]
  
 
[SIZE=medium]What you may not know is that these types of companies acting as consultants typically deal with employers and not directly with employees or employee groups. Let's see former Union officers whoring themselves out as labor consultants to other companies?  [/SIZE]
[SIZE=medium]Isn't that what Jerry Glass does??[/SIZE]
    
[SIZE=medium]PAUL DiORIO is a union buster who got fired by Hummel and now wants revenge.  He is now trying to build his resume by destroying USAPA and making back room deals with Leonidas to let in the NIC.  That's why he made a deal with them to throw Bradford under the bus!  DiOrio is just protecting his private company's reputation and his own future as a union busting management consultant.  [/SIZE]
 
 
 

[SIZE=18pt]PAUL DiORIO... UNION BUSTER[/SIZE]​

 

 

[Phoenix]

[SIZE=10.5pt]There was no sword of Damocles...[/SIZE] RR

 

That is a very powerful premise.  

 

[luvthe9]

 

All US Airways Pilots,

On December 04, 2013, the Board of Pilot Representatives voted 9-2 to send the membership a recall ballot for the President and Vice President. It was no small decision, and was not an action taken rashly but one that evolved over many months of intense deliberations amongst present and former board members. And while this letter will focus on the President, we support recalling the Vice President as well. Every effort to avoid such an outcome has been made by trying to convince President Hummel to change his “leadership” style; to actually work with the BPR, instead of around or against it; to follow the rules as they are written; to communicate to the Board and include them in decisions that affect the union and the pilots it represents. After many months of attempting a diplomatic solution and in light of the significant events that lie ahead, the BPR has collectively come to the conclusion that an immediate change of leadership is in the best interest of all US Airways Pilots.

Over the next twenty-one days, we -- the six current BPR Members from Charlotte and Philadelphia and five previous Reps who all served under Gary Hummel -- will be penning a series of letters titled “Did you know?” These letters will shed light on many of the significant grievances against the current leadership and why we think it is in your best interest to support the recall. What’s particularly noteworthy here is that out of 14 east BPR Representatives (former and active) who have served under Gary Hummel’s “leadership”, 11 of them are joining together to urge your support. These 11 Representatives haven’t always agreed on everything, so the fact that they are all calling for Hummel’s removal from office is significant, and is something we trust you will take very seriously.

As an introduction to our series of letters, here are some things to consider:

Hummel has lost the majority of the BPR’s support because he has been running the union without their input, conducting meetings and negotiations without their knowledge, being less than truthful, breaking internal union rules and repeatedly disregarding their proper call for Special Meetings, a key component of providing you representation on time-sensitive issues. In summary, he has been demonstrating the same secretive behavior and non-inclusiveness that destroyed so much when ALPA was on property. By starting this recall process, your undersigned Domicile Representatives and most of those from other bases are indicating that a change of leadership is in our best interests. These are the pilots who have been trying to work closely with Gary since he took office; that they have lost confidence in our president should be a stern wake up call to all of us.

Hummel has a tight control on the information you are receiving. Soon after the recall was set in motion, Hummel shut the flow of information down by mandating that we would not be allowed to discuss it in our regular Domicile Updates. Why? Unlike elections, there is no Department of Labor rule prohibiting union representatives from communicating to their members about a recall, and there are no internal USAPA rules disallowing it. Nonetheless, we have been muzzled by President Hummel on the issue of his own recall. However, as if to prove our point, there’s a double standard at work here; despite assurances from the Communications Committee that the Officers would not go on a communication spree of their own, singing Gary’s praises and thereby tampering with the outcome of the recall, USAPA members received a mailing which did just that. That mailing was created by a public relations firm, was mailed to you without the Communications Committee Chairman’s knowledge, and it was paid for with YOUR dues money. Again, as if to prove our point, Gary Hummel is acting outside of the rules to serve his own interests. The UOM clearly states: The Communications Committee shall supervise all communication with the membership, and: The Communications Committee Chairman shall be kept apprised and will oversee the production schedule for all communications projects. Neither of these provisions were complied with concerning the propaganda you received from the Officers via U.S. Mail. Meanwhile, you should note that anything you receive from your elected Representatives concerning the recall, including this email, is being funded independently. This recall is that important.

If you were unaware that USAPA employs a PR firm we are not surprised. The firm was hired by the Officers who never sought the required BPR approval and reported to the board it was hired ostensibly to help strategize and implement a PR plan to leverage our position during MOU negotiations. That never happened. Instead, the firm has been utilized as publicist for the President and Officers.

Hummel’s health is a serious detriment to our cause. While no one wishes Gary anything but a complete recovery from either of his recent heart surgeries, his recovery need not be at the expense of thousands of dues-paying pilots. His sporadic absences due to ongoing health challenges have already caused the Association harm at several junctures, including much embarrassment before Judge Silver in Phoenix, and it seems intuitive that continuing down this road would be the height of bad judgment. Ironically, leaving office is almost assuredly the best thing Gary can do for his health; let’s help him make this much-needed, life-affirming decision, and in the process get on with operating a union that places the representation of the Membership as its highest priority.

Our battle is just beginning! Don’t let the whirlwind progress of the past 18 months distract you. The merger will undoubtedly bring many positive changes to our previously stalled careers, but please understand that this progress is largely a byproduct of events that were going to occur anyway. What we attained during the process wasn’t due to any one person, and certainly not Gary Hummel himself, who placed the BPR at a strategic disadvantage – seemingly on purpose - on numerous occasions and acted inappropriately by directly involving himself in the negotiating process that led to our MOU. He was not trained to do so, and it’s this sort of undisciplined union work that has and will continue to cost us dearly. As recently as last month, the BPR narrowly prevented Gary from unilaterally filing an Amicus brief with the bankruptcy court in NY that would have been very damaging to us during upcoming seniority negotiations.

Better now than later. Don’t be fooled into thinking that recalling our leadership now is bad timing; in fact, the timing is perfect. While some suggest that USAPA will be gone in just a few months, our attorneys and experts say otherwise and expect our existence to continue for 18 to 24 more months or even longer. This is a significant amount of time and much more needs to be accomplished, including the JCBA and the seniority integration. Others believe that a change in administration will create disruption and uncertainty. Again, we believe this is unfounded and from the line pilot’s point of view, any transition will be seamless and will go virtually unnoticed. Furthermore, President Hummel’s current term will end April 2015 with nominations occurring in a little over a year from now. This will in all likelihood coincide with the middle of the JCBA or seniority integration with APA. President Hummel’s medical condition is such that he will likely still be disabled during the nomination period and will thus be unable to run for reelection. With this in mind, we believe NOW is the time to put new leadership in place and not in the middle of JCBA or a seniority arbitration.

We absolutely should not risk continuing down this road with the current leadership. Most of the BPR is ready for a change. They have grown tired of being ignored and kept in the dark. Board members are regularly surprised by events and informed by line pilots of the activities of the Officers. This union was intended to be run transparently, and there can be no question that it’s not being run that way. The vast majority of US Airways pilots should have no illusions about what happens when their union leaders take matters into their own hands and operate secretively. Bad things happen, and we’ve lived that nightmare. Do the responsible thing and vote to remove Gary Hummel from office. Let’s be part of the solution and make way for a strong pilot advocate who’s focused on running this union as it was originally intended to operate.

Please vote yes to recall Gary Hummel and Steve Bradford at https://www.BallotPoint.com/USAPA/


Sincerely,

Bob Frear    Paul DiOrio    Ron Nelson    John Taylor    
Courtney Borman    Paul Music    Steve Szpyrka    
Bill McKee    Steve Crimi    Mike Gillies    DeWitt Ingram ​

Note: If you would like to help mitigate the substantial expense we are incurring to communicate to you, please send a contribution to “RecallHummel@gmail.com” through PayPal (you need not have a PayPal account to contribute). Simply go to www.paypal.com and click on the “personal” tab on top left using your laptop (smartphones will be a different display); go to the “transfer” tab and choose “send someone money” from the drop down menu; fill out the requested information including “RecallHummel@gmail.com” in the “their email” field and click continue and you will be rerouted to a payment information page. If you already have a PayPal account (or would like to create one) you may also simply cut and paste the following address into your browser and you will be routed directly to the payment page: http://paypal.com/xclick/business=recallhummel@gmail.com
 

Campaign messages are not union-endorsed or paid for with union funds.

Paul J. DiOrio | 325 Summer Street | North Andover, ME 01845 | (978) 886-1141
This email was sent to jhardyjr@aol.com | You may unsubscribe here.

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[luvthe9]

RECALL HUMMEL NOW!!!!!!!  DON"T FALL FOR KING'S   BS

 

[Phoenix]

RECALL HUMMEL NOW!!!!!!!  DON"T FALL FOR KING'S   BS

 
 
Fall for it? The format is so bad I can't believe he was the player he claims he was.    

 

[luvthe9]

If you are confused as to what this recall is all about, there are some things being hidden from you.  Hummel, Bradford and Streble have demanded that the company (Allied) that is putting out the letters from the BPR that they are paying for have only Paul DiOrio's email address on it so that you will think these letters are just from him.  In other words, if the other 8 reps put a letter out, it will still only have Paul DiOrio's email address on it.
 
This is done so you think that he is the only one that is pushing for this recall.  Another in a long line of dirty tricks that are being played on you.  It is done so you will be confused who is behind all of this and who is calling for the recall.  Just so you know.  All 9 Reps have voted for the recall.
 
Both the BPR and Gary are not supposed to send out campaign letters unless they pay for it themselves.  But this week, you got just that from Gary Hummel but paid for by your dues.  But that's not all, USAPA had hired a PR company to help with the MOU, instead, Gary used that PR firm to write that letter.  Again, with your dues.  Again, one set of rules for the BPR and another set that Gary makes up as he goes.
 
I read Mark King's attack letter.  No where in the letter does he address the problems that Gary's secrecy has caused or his severe health problems.  Instead, it is a personal attack that besides insulting Paul DiOrio's integrity, it also insults all other 8 Reps that also voted for the recall.  As if those other 8 Reps don't have enough integrity, honesty and understanding of what is happening to decide on their own.  King neglects to say that many of those Reps have watched how the BPR has been removed from any involvement of the negotiations and meetings and pleaded with Gary to be transparent and open about what he is doing and have met with no success.  Their frustration is driving this recall.
 
You can read all these attack letters signed and unsigned (don't you just love the heroism of someone that writes an attack letter and doesn't sign it)? Don't just read the words, look at what is happening with your own eyes.  Censorship of the entire BPR, forcing Allied to use only Paul DiOrio's email address, the secret meetings with the company that Gary admits to, the witnesses that tell you that he was secretly in touch with Scott Kirby, Gary's undermining of the previous administration, his severe health problems hidden from you, his efforts to stop the retro active pay raise, etc.  I could go on and on.  Mark King and some others can tell you what they think, but they can't change the facts, so they use personal attacks instead.
 
If you want secret negotiations, deals made without any input by you or the elected reps you voted for, if you want someone that ignores the USAPA Constitution, By-laws and UOM, than by all means vote to keep Gary.  Because if you vote to keep Gary in office, you are telling him that you want secret meetings and secret deals.  Votes matter.  In this case, a vote to keep Gary in office is a vote of confidence in his leadership tactics.
 
In some ways, this is the ALPA-USAPA vote all over again.  Do you want one person to make secret deals or an open and honest union to represent you.  It's up to the pilots to decide.  RECALL "MR. TRANSPARENCY " HUMMEL NOW.

 

[Phoenix]

 
If you are confused as to what this recall is all about, there are some things being hidden from you.  Hummel, Bradford and Streble have demanded that the company (Allied) that is putting out the letters from the BPR that they are paying for have only Paul DiOrio's email address on it so that you will think these letters are just from him.  In other words, if the other 8 reps put a letter out, it will still only have Paul DiOrio's email address on it.
 
This is done so you think that he is the only one that is pushing for this recall.  Another in a long line of dirty tricks that are being played on you.  It is done so you will be confused who is behind all of this and who is calling for the recall.  Just so you know.  All 9 Reps have voted for the recall.
 
Both the BPR and Gary are not supposed to send out campaign letters unless they pay for it themselves.  But this week, you got just that from Gary Hummel but paid for by your dues.  But that's not all, USAPA had hired a PR company to help with the MOU, instead, Gary used that PR firm to write that letter.  Again, with your dues.  Again, one set of rules for the BPR and another set that Gary makes up as he goes.
 
I read Mark King's attack letter.  No where in the letter does he address the problems that Gary's secrecy has caused or his severe health problems.  Instead, it is a personal attack that besides insulting Paul DiOrio's integrity, it also insults all other 8 Reps that also voted for the recall.  As if those other 8 Reps don't have enough integrity, honesty and understanding of what is happening to decide on their own.  King neglects to say that many of those Reps have watched how the BPR has been removed from any involvement of the negotiations and meetings and pleaded with Gary to be transparent and open about what he is doing and have met with no success.  Their frustration is driving this recall.
 
You can read all these attack letters signed and unsigned (don't you just love the heroism of someone that writes an attack letter and doesn't sign it)? Don't just read the words, look at what is happening with your own eyes.  Censorship of the entire BPR, forcing Allied to use only Paul DiOrio's email address, the secret meetings with the company that Gary admits to, the witnesses that tell you that he was secretly in touch with Scott Kirby, Gary's undermining of the previous administration, his severe health problems hidden from you, his efforts to stop the retro active pay raise, etc.  I could go on and on.  Mark King and some others can tell you what they think, but they can't change the facts, so they use personal attacks instead.
 
If you want secret negotiations, deals made without any input by you or the elected reps you voted for, if you want someone that ignores the USAPA Constitution, By-laws and UOM, than by all means vote to keep Gary.  Because if you vote to keep Gary in office, you are telling him that you want secret meetings and secret deals.  Votes matter.  In this case, a vote to keep Gary in office is a vote of confidence in his leadership tactics.
 
In some ways, this is the ALPA-USAPA vote all over again.  Do you want one person to make secret deals or an open and honest union to represent you.  It's up to the pilots to decide.  RECALL "MR. TRANSPARENCY " HUMMEL NOW.
 

 
 
I think we get it.  
 
Res J., Nic4US, UHaul, Trader, and RR are all afraid of DiOrio.   I wish someone would treat pilots like they aren't stupid and gullible.

 

[luvthe9]

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[SIZE=16pt]Vote YES to Recall, YES to Amend![/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=12pt]An Important Note: [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]You might wonder why this email, sent by Allied Union Services, has come to you addressed from Paul J. DiOrio. There’s a word for it, and it is: politics. USAPA “leadership” has set this up, requiring that only Paul’s address appear on emails that seek to expose them, such that they can keep a straight face when they make the ridiculous claim that the entire recall is a personal mission of Paul’s. While emails from Gary Hummel or those who vigorously defend him have come to you from various addresses, Hummel himself and those who protect him have set this up to look like a one man show is running the recall. This is absolutely NOT TRUE. They – Hummel and Bradford – have tightly controlled the information you receive for over 18 months. And, predictably, when the recall got under way, they made sure they could control it just a bit more. That’s why this letter appears to be from DiOrio, but what follows are my words and my thoughts. I politely and professionally ask that you consider what’s written below. It comes from over three years witnessing the very complex political situation within USAPA, and I stand by every word.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Thank you,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Mike Gillies[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]PHL Vice Chairman, 2011-2013[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=16pt]Steve Bradford and the Cheap Shot School of Politics[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=12pt]It's always fascinating when Steve Bradford writes a campaign email. I've witnessed on multiple occasions that the inner workings of his true belief system leak out when he writes, especially when he's desperately trying to convince you of something that isn't quite true. Bradford's latest email, sent to you in an effort to save his position of power, is so filled with spin, distractions, and outright lies that it’s difficult to know where to begin.

First, the notion that the recall of Gary Hummel is driven solely by one man’s personal hatred is just ludicrous. It’s a childish ploy to make you believe that nine of the eleven USAPA Board members, not to mention five of six Board members who recently left office, have jumped on board this recall effort solely to carry out the personal vendetta of DiOrio’s. If you believe that, please take a step back and think: how could DiOrio have possibly pulled that off? Why would eight other Reps waste their time helping DiOrio on a personal mission? Nine BPR members rarely agree on anything, and yet but Steve Bradford wants you to believe that they just recently decided to rally together and help Paul settle an old score. This is nothing but a fabrication from Hummel and Bradford. It’s a cheap shot, and a story line that might play well in a “reality” TV series, but I trust that you realize this is serious business. Stupid ploys like this one from Bradford are typical, and I ask that you recall this example when you consider whether he’s fit to continue as Vice President.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Bradford’s letter continues and the lies and extraneous issues used to distract become even more outrageous. He accuses DiOrio – a pilot hired at US Air in 1989 and on furlough when the merger was announced – of being “pro Nicolau.” That’s quite a stretch, Steve! And it’s a sad commentary on your faith in this pilot group that you would hope they’d believe that one of our 1989 hires secretly wants to be stapled below 2005. Then he goes on, with a faintly accusatory tone, to tell us that DiOrio and Courtney Borman were furloughed when USAPA’s representational election took place. This is not true. Both pilots were recalled in 2007. Why Steve Bradford tries to make this a pertinent issue is beyond me, except that he and Hummel like to distract people; it’s their stock in trade. Does it all sound ridiculous? I agree, but please feel free to fact check anything I write here, or call the people involved. Steve Bradford lies and spins and plays very loose with the truth when he gets desperate. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]The truth is that the nine Board members who all voted to remove Gary Hummel didn’t always see the issues that necessitate his recall. My replacement, John Taylor, joined the Board in April, and he started serving this pilot group with a very open mind toward Hummel and Bradford’s leadership. John is a good man, who doesn’t engage in political back slapping and who isn’t turning a blind eye to the problem. He’s now standing with his colleagues and he voted for the recall. Others in this group of nine were formerly supportive of Hummel, and I know from my time on the Board that they have all done their best to work with him. But as time passes and opportunities are missed and leverage is pissed away, these nine men have come to the conclusion that Hummel and Bradford need to leave office – NOW – before anymore damage is done to our cause. And finally, you should know that beyond the nine current Reps who are calling for Hummel’s and Bradford’s removal, 14 of 17 USAPA Representatives who’ve worked under Gary Hummel are firmly in support of this recall! Ask yourself, why is it the Board members who worked the closest with Gary trust him the least? And then ask yourself: If almost 90% of the Board has said that they want him out of office, how functional will USAPA be if we don’t recall him?[/SIZE]

 ​

[SIZE=16pt]If you take nothing else from this letter, understand that 14 current and former Reps, all with firsthand knowledge of Gary Hummel’s lack of effectiveness, are united in their stance that he will cause significant damage to your career if he is not removed from office![/SIZE]​

 ​

 ​

[SIZE=12pt]The reasons for the Hummel recall are fairly straightforward. 1) He runs USAPA autocratically, diminishing the Board’s input, and 2) He has lost his medical, which would disqualify him from being the President if the rules were being followed. Hummel has run USAPA with less transparency than at any time in its history. He often has worked against the will of the Board or simply done things without their knowledge, made very bad judgment calls, and has done it all while dealing with a health issue that clearly disqualifies him from acting as President. Gary Hummel – who ran for office on the moniker of Peacemaker – has been doing just that, making peace with US Airways Management and making their lives easy. Hummel undermined our cause on many, many occasions during MOU negotiations. He helped the Company deliver its message that our Change of Control language was “worthless,” when in fact it – along with the Code Share language – was the only real piece of leverage we had and likely the driver for everything we received in this deal. He fought against our (successful) battle for Retro Pay by parading all 4 NAC members, 3 attorneys, the other Officers and even key APA officials to try to convince the 5 of us – 3 CLT and 2 PHL reps -- not to ask for anything else. We were told by all 12 of these individuals, led by Gary Hummel and Steve Bradford, there was no more on the table and we were going to “blow up the deal.” THEY WERE WRONG, and in two weeks, your 12/30/13 paycheck will contain Retro Pay that wouldn’t be there if Hummel and Bradford had succeeded in neutering the union completely. Is this really who you want leading USAPA through JCBA and the coming seniority integration?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]And I’m sure you’ve noticed that Hummel and Bradford take great pride in the “$40 Million” signing bonus. They even used your dues money last week to send you a letter to congratulate themselves on it, but they never refer to it by its actual value to you, which is about $8400 before taxes. What you may not know is Hummel, without consulting the NAC nor the BPR, “negotiated” this insulting amount directly with Scott Kirby. By the time the Board was made aware, it was being sold as a “done deal” with a “take it or leave it” notation. Did you know that Continental pilots split about $175 Million, for about $33,000 each, and that United pilots shared $225 million? Or that Delta and Northwest pilots received stock that makes our $8400 look silly, or that even the UAL Flight Attendants received $5000 each? Hummel and Bradford also went to great pains to make sure that you understood management’s excuse for why American pilots were receiving well over $100,000 in stock options; they were special because of their bankruptcy! By all counts, USAPA’s effectiveness during the MOU negotiations was weak, at best, and as a Board member who witnessed it all, I can report to you that the overriding reason for this was that Hummel took almost all matters into his own hands and effectively prevented the BPR from functioning in any normal capacity. It’s not so much that the BPR was duped, it’s that we were removed from the process to such a large degree that Hummel and his “decision making” and his obvious allegiance to the Company ruled the day. Enjoy your $8400, or whatever you net after taxes. You deserved much, much more![/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Finally, Bradford’s plea that you vote against changing Division of the House rules is another shameless ploy to keep our DCA reps as kingpins in Hummel and Bradford-sponsored political maneuvers. Consistent with his strategy, Bradford is pinning this on Paul DiOrio, but that’s another lie; this resolution originated at a Charlotte Domicile meeting, and I can tell you it’s an important amendment that deserves a YES vote. Because the two DCA Reps only represent 200 some pilots, they are disproportionately empowered to run this union’s day-to-day affairs. And while Bradford claims a Roll Call vote has never taken place at USAPA, what he’s not telling you is that Division of the House rules are essentially the same thing, and they were a key component in the battle to secure your Retro Pay. It was only because of this provision that five Reps were empowered to stand up for what you deserved, because they carried the responsibility of the larger Domiciles and were acting based on input from their constituents. By voting YES to the amendment, you’ll make sure the pilots in our largest bases receive the representation they pay for and deserve on ALL the issues, not just the last minute, gut-check things like MOU’s and Pension giveaways.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt] The damage Hummel and Bradford have caused cannot be undone. Our signing bonus is weak, the MOU is weak and the ambiguity is already causing us problems, and all of this would have been prevented if Hummel hadn’t worked behind the back of the Board, who is supposed to be calling the shots. But there is still a lot of negotiating to do, with numerous life changing and career solidifying events to come. It is my sincere hope that we -- the New American Airlines pilots who hailed from US Airways -- will remove these men from office and install leadership who has fortitude and a moral compass, someone who respects the Constitution and who will operate the union as it was intended. I’m not sure when Steve Bradford’s moral compass left the building, but one read of his latest, very desperate sounding letter tell me that it is long gone.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]I’d like to reiterate one last fact: No matter what you think of all the politics, almost 90% of the Board of Pilot Representatives have called on you to vote for the recall of Gary Hummel and Steve Bradford. This is a serious call, and not some personal vendetta. Remember, 14 of 17 current and previous Board members – some of whom strongly supported Hummel in years past – are telling you with their vote that Hummel and Bradford need to relinquish their positions.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]The answer to moving forward with responsible leaders who respect your right to vigorous representation is to vote YES on all three of the items on the ballot you can find here: https://www.BallotPoint.com/USAPA/[/SIZE]
 

 

[767one]

While I would agree with most of your assertion, it seems that when I reference things like "10-K's" or "why APA pilots wanted the merger" or even APA support for entry level Captains....American pilots, like the AWA, seem to "cherry pick" arguments that they believe give them superiority career expectation arguments that carry no basis in fact.

I think every pilot group likes to "cherry pick". Management likes to cherry pick. We all like to cherry pick. Some are better at it than others.

 

[Black Swan]

Ok.So in two years, AA is forecast to have 67 777's, over 60 767's and the first of 42 firm 787's arriving on the property (Group IV rates). As we stand today, bottom AA 777 Captain has a July 1986 DOH and with the above fleet which should drop to 1988 fairly quickly. 767 Captain lineholders have a 1990 DOH.If I understand you correctly, your position is that the lists should be DOH only, and if the next 500 current AA based 777/787/767 Captain slots are filled with the long stagnated LCC East bottom narrow body Captain and FO's, the AA FO's and junior narrow body Captains should just stand aside?Re: The APA comments on Captain pay because they were hired "as Captains", many here have been fighting a battle to raise the FO percentages based on years of service. It's a hard battle and not going anywhere.

I think the majority of USAirways pilots understand you guys brought a large number of widebodies, and they need to be fenced for some years to allow your guys to move into them. I really think most guys are fine with that.
Most guys here are about pocketing some cash before we exit out. You fence those things off for five years and you will find a huge percentage of East guys are GONE.