Nov/Dec 2013 Pilot Discussion

[Ames]

 
Give 'em my best. The ones I know say "you'se" are completely full of BS with what you offer as their supposed group position.
 
Per your juvenile and tiresome rantings of how noble, virtuous and true a "knight" you are...? Seriously!? One must necessarily, simply laugh. It's much akin to your being a supposed "patriot", but one who, as if by "Larry Potta" magic, never so much as saw the need for even "serving" in the Cub Scouts for the Nation's interests.
 
"You'se" are nothing more than yet another little "spartan" joke, and I'll stick with "you'se" being a person I'd not trust with an unattended wallet.

Still doing the knights and Spartans thing?  I'll bet you like gladiator movies, too.

 

[Ames]

USAPA, the soap opera..

We have resignations:


The following is USAPA’s Executive Vice-President Dave Ciabattoni’s resignation letter:

Dear BPR,

I hereby resign my position as Executive Vice President of USAPA effective immediately. I will simultaneously leave the Scope Monitoring Committee. Finally, at the end of the LOA 93 Grievance I shall resign from the System Board.

I must be blunt here: the mutation of USAPA from a democratic, line pilot oriented and controlled union into the current administration that is about enrichment and ease of life style for President Cleary and his supporters is nearly complete and in record time.

Had the Board been more assertive, as is your responsibility and Constitutional duty to enforce accountability, this might not have happened, but you were not and as a result, I have no desire to be associated with such an organization.

I fully expect that my complete resignation letter will be sent to the pilots when I make it available to USAPA. Nonetheless, the resignation letter will be made available to the pilot group through private email lists and hard copy postings in all the crew rooms to preclude USAPA censorship.

I chose to be part of a new Union that was founded on transparency, fiscal responsibility, and true representational leadership. Currently, I find none of that in the leadership of USAPA.

Good luck to you all and my sincere wish that USAPA rights itself and finds its way.

Dave Ciabattoni

The rats are leaving the ship.

 

[Ames]

 

[SIZE=14pt]Ballot Certification Committee Resigns[/SIZE]

 ​

To the USAPA Officers and BPR:                                                                                                           12/24/2013
 
It is with great regret that we tender our resignations from the Ballot Certification Committee immediately.
 
It has been a privilege serving the pilots of USAPA, and we thank them for trusting us with the oversight of this important committee. We recognize that our members have very diverse and passionate views. USAPA's elections and referendums are the vehicle by which the collective will of our pilots is truly and accurately expressed. 
 
We have had many challenges to overcome, both internal and external, in order to maintain fair elections for our pilots.  Since its inception, every election conducted by this committee has adhered to the highest ethical standards, and has met or exceeded every applicable statute outlined by the US Department of Labor. We have worked very closely with the Department of Labor and have received high accolades from them, as well as from our pilots. We are proud of the fact that the Department of Labor has upheld this committee's actions and decisions in every challenge which has arisen to date.
 
The time commitment involved in scheduling, conducting, and officiating elections is considerable. Every member of our committee is married with young children.  Our families' support, encouragement, and willingness to sacrifice time together, is what has made it possible for us to serve our fellow pilots.
 
We've dealt with a lot of challenges over the years, but the dysfunction and dirty politics which now seem to permeate USAPA's governing body has reached a level that we have not witnessed before at USAPA. It is truly sad to see just how much we have returned to the practices of our former bargaining agent. 
 
It has recently come to our attention that several current and former BPR members have begun a campaign to undermine our personal integrity, and the integrity of the Ballot Certification Committee. We can only speculate that the intent of this campaign is to influence the outcome of the current recall referendum.  We willingly endured the sacrifices to our personal and family lives in order to contribute to an organization which promised a better way to do business. Quite frankly, with the current level of dysfunction in USAPA, we have neither the time nor the desire to deal with such distractions.
 
We currently find ourselves in the difficult position of having to administer a recall referendum without the guidance of the Constitution and Bylaws or the UOM.  In cases such as these, we must defer to the governing body for guidance.  Unfortunately, recent actions by members of the BPR in knowingly disseminating false information to our pilots make it clear that the governing body lacks the integrity our pilots deserve.  We refuse to be a part of any of that, and so we feel duty-bound to resign from the Ballot Certification Committee.
 
We are by no means trying to interfere with the ongoing referendum by withdrawing our volunteer services.  Thus, should the BPR and officers request, we will provide the association with technical assistance in order to finish the current referendum and PHX nominations.
 
Fraternally,
 
Jay Morgan
 
Wes Yount
 
Andy Hunt
 

More rats leaving the ship.

 

[Ames]

"We've dealt with a lot of challenges over the years, but the dysfunction and dirty politics which now seem to permeate USAPA's governing body has reached a level that we have not witnessed before at USAPA. It is truly sad to see just how much we have returned to the practices of our former bargaining agent."
 
So, maybe the problem isn't the name on the union door but the inhabitants behind the door.  Jeez you easties are stupid.  This is so much fun to watch!

Yep.  I didn't think ucrapa could get any worse yet they surprised me.

 

[Ames]

A sad ending for such a bitter group"

Yep.  Soon to be a sad ending for the bitter east pilot group.  Yet a happy ending for the "knights, Spartans, and warriors".  Can't wait to have ucrapa in the rear view mirror.

 

[Monkee]

"We've dealt with a lot of challenges over the years, but the dysfunction and dirty politics which now seem to permeate USAPA's governing body has reached a level that we have not witnessed before at USAPA. It is truly sad to see just how much we have returned to the practices of our former bargaining agent."
 
So, maybe the problem isn't the name on the union door but the inhabitants behind the door.  Jeez you easties are stupid.  This is so much fun to watch!

 
Exactly...watching sleazy fight against sleazy, comedy gold.

 

[Pi brat]

Yep.  Soon to be a sad ending for the bitter east pilot group.  Yet a happy ending for the "knights, Spartans, and warriors".  Can't wait to have ucrapa in the rear view mirror.

Your quote has me saying that. I didn't, those are pre's words. Funny you left out her other predictions that didn't come true.

 

[Pi brat]

 
Exactly...watching sleazy fight against sleazy, comedy gold.

I thought you guys would wait for Judge Silver's ruling before you came out of your holes.

 

[snapthis]

I thought you guys would wait for Judge Silver's ruling before you came out of your holes.

 
I agree. How is life on the island?
 
Feeling a little left out?

 
 
Merger/Grievance Committee Update - MTA Dispute #1 & 2
We have confirmed that the Company held a meeting last Friday, December 20th, and bargained with the Addington II plaintiffs in Washington, DC, concerning SLI protocol.  The meeting was attended by representatives from APA.  As we mentioned in the last Merger Update, we did not participate in this meeting because it clearly violated USAPA’s exclusive status as representative of US Airways pilots.  
We also mentioned in that update we would take the appropriate steps to stop these violations. We view this meeting as an attempt by the Company to divide the pilots represented by both APA and USAPA for the purpose for causing labor infighting which the Company hopes to capitalize on.  We have seen this tactic before and will not be drawn into this infighting.  We are united and focused as a committee of former East and former West pilots to act on behalf of all US Airways pilots.  We look forward to working with our brothers and sisters at APA to complete a fair contract and seniority integration.
Earlier today, USAPA filed a grievance under the provisions of the MOU that alleges the Company’s actions in meeting and bargaining with outsiders, and refusing to provide requested information necessary to the SLI process violates the MOU.  The grievance  (MTA Dispute #2) is available for viewing in the Grievance Library.  As the MOU provides, this is an expedited grievance that we anticipate will be heard in the very near future.  
Also filed last week was MTA Dispute #1, available in the Grievance Library.  This will be an expedited grievance under paragraph 20 of the MOU regarding the Company's delay in certain pay provisions called for at the POR on December 9, 2013.  The parties were offered potential dates for Arbitration during the week of January 20th in front of Arbitrator Jaffe.  The Company was unable to accept any of those dates.  We are now looking at dates in February from either Arbitrator Bloch or Jaffe that are acceptable to the Company.    
Your Merger Committee will do our best to work with our APA brothers and sisters and to meet the challenges placed before us.  To remove all doubt and make certain you all understand our stance:  The USAPA Merger Committee, which represents all US Airways pilots, is in unanimous agreement that we will not bargain or negotiate at any time concerning the seniority of the pilots we represent with anyone other than the legal representatives to the MOU.  To be perfectly clear, those parties are USAPA, APA and the New American Airlines.  This Merger Committee represents all US Airways pilots and will vigorously oppose any attempt by management to weaken our position on behalf of the pilots we represent, or to create artificial points of disagreement with APA.
USAPA Merger and Grievance Committees

 

 ​

 

[prechilill]

Exactly...watching sleazy fight against sleazy, comedy gold.

The world's dumbest clowns- couldn't be more entertaining to watch. It's like a planned Holiday Special, first Streble, now these weasels... And the best is yet to come!!!

 

[snapthis]

"The parties were offered potential dates for Arbitration during the week of January 20th in front of Arbitrator Jaffe.  The Company was unable to accept any of those dates."
 
Do you really think anybody will go to arbitration when USAPA is a party?
 
Cheats.

 

[snapthis]

The world's dumbest clowns- couldn't be more entertaining to watch. It's like a planned Holiday Special, first Streble, now these weasels... And the best is yet to come!!!

 
Oh yea. Enjoying the show.

 

[prechilill]

Former UStupid Ballot Certification Committee:

 

[Phoenix]

To the USAPA Officers and BPR: 12/24/2013

It is with great regret that we tender our resignations from the Ballot Certification Committee immediately....

If this letter is for real, two things are certain:
The certification committee knew the vote count and opposed the imminent result...
And they condemn what they themselves chose to become.

 

[Phoenix]

 
 
Merger/Grievance Committee Update - MTA Dispute #1 & 2
We have confirmed that the Company held a meeting last Friday, December 20th, and bargained with the Addington II plaintiffs in Washington, DC, concerning SLI protocol.  The meeting was attended by representatives from APA.  As we mentioned in the last Merger Update, we did not participate in this meeting because it clearly violated USAPA’s exclusive status as representative of US Airways pilots.  
We also mentioned in that update we would take the appropriate steps to stop these violations. We view this meeting as an attempt by the Company to divide the pilots represented by both APA and USAPA for the purpose for causing labor infighting which the Company hopes to capitalize on.  We have seen this tactic before and will not be drawn into this infighting.  We are united and focused as a committee of former East and former West pilots to act on behalf of all US Airways pilots.  We look forward to working with our brothers and sisters at APA to complete a fair contract and seniority integration.
Earlier today, USAPA filed a grievance under the provisions of the MOU that alleges the Company’s actions in meeting and bargaining with outsiders, and refusing to provide requested information necessary to the SLI process violates the MOU.  The grievance  (MTA Dispute #2) is available for viewing in the Grievance Library.  As the MOU provides, this is an expedited grievance that we anticipate will be heard in the very near future.  
Also filed last week was MTA Dispute #1, available in the Grievance Library.  This will be an expedited grievance under paragraph 20 of the MOU regarding the Company's delay in certain pay provisions called for at the POR on December 9, 2013.  The parties were offered potential dates for Arbitration during the week of January 20th in front of Arbitrator Jaffe.  The Company was unable to accept any of those dates.  We are now looking at dates in February from either Arbitrator Bloch or Jaffe that are acceptable to the Company.    
Your Merger Committee will do our best to work with our APA brothers and sisters and to meet the challenges placed before us.  To remove all doubt and make certain you all understand our stance:  The USAPA Merger Committee, which represents all US Airways pilots, is in unanimous agreement that we will not bargain or negotiate at any time concerning the seniority of the pilots we represent with anyone other than the legal representatives to the MOU.  To be perfectly clear, those parties are USAPA, APA and the New American Airlines.  This Merger Committee represents all US Airways pilots and will vigorously oppose any attempt by management to weaken our position on behalf of the pilots we represent, or to create artificial points of disagreement with APA.
USAPA Merger and Grievance Committees

Bargaining with a non-certified agent is not a grievance issue. It is far more serious and does not belong in a grievance process. It belongs in the courts. If Hummel is allowing it to be lost into a grievance rat race of irrelevance, you know exactly where he stands.... Capitulation.