From: u-turn [
mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 10:50 PM
Subject: U-Turn: Is Common Sense Returning?
Fellow U-Turnians, I just got this forwarded to me from a LAS-based USAPA member. Compare the message below to all the trash talk we’ve read from other West Reps. I’m surprised USAPA ever let them go out. ALPA wouldn’t have.
Here’s a guy who wants to move forward. It almost makes me want to join the union now. If we get a similar tone in PHX, I might join.
We know Eric is involved in defending the Nicolau award. What West pilot isn’t? Notice no mention of Nic, Addington, DOH in his update. Obviously he’s going to let the courts make the decision and not carry on the useless and endless attacks on the East that just divides us more. This update just shows he’s willing to work as a group member. Don’t like Eric’s tone? Then do the normal self-defeating west thing and recall him.
Maybe now all the trash talk and insults launched by former AWA MEC officers John McIlvenna, Mitch Vasin and their old ALPA allies will be over. U-Turn’s been putting out the message of working together for over a year. We’ve got a lot of hate mail and enemies for doing it. But now, it looks like common sense is here. Some comments of Eric in
bold.
Dave
Las Vegas Domicile Update
October 26, 2009
Marcio Lucchese, former LAS USAPA Chairman:
In case you missed it, Marcio Lucchese has returned to the line full-time, having been replaced by me, Eric Ferguson, as our first elected representative from LAS to the BPR. Elected is a bit of an oxymoron in this case, because no election was held. As the only candidate for the position this time around, an election was unnecessary, and I became the LAS Chairman when Marcio's temporary appointment expired on October 1st.
I would like to personally thank Marcio for his service to our pilot group in serving as the first representative to USAPA from the Las Vegas base. This was an unpopular move at first, and I commend him for boldly stepping forward at a trying and critical time in our airline's history. Good luck, Marcio, and thanks again.
October 20 and 21 BPR meeting:
Last week I had the opportunity to attend my first USAPA BPR meeting in person. Prior to the meeting on the 20th, I had participated in a couple of conference calls, but not a live, “face-to-face” meeting. I had the privilege of attending with PHX Chairman Brice LeCarre, as well as David Braid, who was acting as PHX Vice Chairman Sue Stokes's proxy.
I thoroughly enjoyed working alongside these men, in addition to the other members of the BPR. I will also say that I was impressed with the hospitality and professionalism afforded to our contingent. Everyone was respectful and courteous and seemed genuinely interested in our input. It is undeniable that the PHX and LAS domiciles are beginning to influence the direction of the Union. That is not to say that we will get our way on every issue – that is an unrealistic expectation and not how representative democracies function.
But, in reality, it is rare that any given issue comes down strictly to one's domicile affiliation. I look forward to the day when our western domiciles will be represented by additional seats at the table.
We should never have been content to let others make all decisions on our behalf at the BPR, and I am pleased to report that those days have come to an end. We should exert as much influence as our size will allow, and I feel that influence will only continue to grow.
Your membership status:
I know several of you have recently (or maybe even not so recently) applied for USAPA membership, but have not been made aware of a change in your status. This is because membership is normally conferred upon applicants at a local domicile meeting. I have not yet scheduled a domicile meeting since taking over from Marcio on October 1st. This is something I will plan on doing during the month of November. In the meantime, per the USAPA constitution, membership may also be granted to member applicants at a BPR meeting. There is a BPR meeting scheduled for the first week of November, and we will vote on those of you awaiting approval at that time so as not to delay your admittance to the Union any further. Thanks for your patience in this matter.
Section 29 Enforcement:
You may have heard that USAPA is aggressively pursuing Section 29 enforcement against former AWA pilots. Well, this is true, and USAPA is doing the same with East Coast-based pilots as well. US Airways Pilots have had since April 18th, 2008, to make good on their obligations to pay the bargaining agent the funds to which it is legally entitled
. The plain language of our CBAs requires all pilots subject to the bargaining agent (which really and truly means all pilots) to pay according to the policy. Of course, there are many more delinquent pilots (both as a percentage, and in actual numbers) based out West than out East, so it should not come as any surprise that the Dues Collection Committee spends most of its time making friends with our West Coast pilots.
I will admit that the enforcement of this policy has probably been a bit lax in the past, but those days are over, because the Union has rightfully run out of patience. This is just as you would if you personally had a long overdue debt that you were trying to collect. So, starting a few weeks ago and continuing into the foreseeable future, USAPA will be sending out numerous letters to our delinquent pilots. The exact procedures being used to enforce the written policy will not be disclosed. In other words, the policy is being enforced as written, but the method (such as how many letters are being sent out, or in what order) has not been made available to your representatives. The Union is under no obligation to offer this information, but please understand that it is diligently working to collect. Because of this, I cannot tell you ahead of time when your “number will be up,” so please do not call to ask. I just do not have that information in advance and have long preferred that we not play games with this anyway. Please save yourselves (and me) the anxiety and just pay up. So, to summarize what this all means, let's just say that if you receive a letter notifying you that you have been selected for termination under the Section 29, “Union Security Clause,” then you will have the simple choice of either complying with the letter's request or losing your job.
That seems like a pretty simple choice to me.
I personally do not have the patience for any more gamesmanship about the matter. The plain language of the Agreement gives you a simple choice: pay or be terminated. There is really nothing to argue about. Now, having said the above, I respectfully request that you do more than give USAPA your hard-earned money; give us your voice and your vote as well. Please consider becoming (and staying) a member in good standing.
Last week I was able to meet the chairman of the Dues Collection Committee, John Mahlman. I will say that it is obvious to me that this man has not taken this unpleasant position out of some sadistic motive to “shake down” our pilots, but rather that he does this out of a sincere desire to professionally uphold the policy in a manner that actually helps to build unity. I do suspect that he has to be a little masochistic, though, because I am sure he has been subject to the occasional and sometimes breathtakingly-impressive berating by those he has been tasked to contact (this is just a guess on my part). Perhaps it is therapeutic for him, but as they say, “someone has to do it.”
I have heard that most of you who have been contacted by John are pleasantly surprised by his kind professionalism. I am just glad it’s not something I have to do all of the time.
Open Enrollment:
Please do not forget to enroll for your benefits for 2010. Enrollment will end at 23:59 (Eastern Time) on Friday, October 30th. Be sure to log in at
www.ebenefitsus.com to complete the process. There are a handful of changes this year that require your attention, so do not neglect this important task.
Volunteers (always) Needed:
As you are aware, a union is an organization which functions primarily through the efforts of its member volunteers. Your efforts and ideas are required to continually improve the union. If you would like to serve your fellow pilot (in almost any capacity), or if you believe you have a worthwhile idea, please send me an email at
[email protected], or give me a call on the USAPA phone at
(704) 804-4298. Also, to get a better idea of the many committees available on which you may be able to assist, please visit the USAPA Web site at
www.usairlinepilots.org.
Future Communications from LAS:
I look forward to publishing future updates in a more regular and timely fashion. I have really just been trying to find my way around as your newly-elected representative over the past month, and I apologize that I have fallen a little behind. Expect more frequent and relevant communications in the future.
Thank you,
Eric Ferguson
LAS Board of Pilot Representatives Chairman
