Yesterday I flew a Shuttle trip, had a 15 minute connection to CLT, then went to the almost 8-hour ALPA MEC meeting, then commuted back home, arriving at 1:00 a.m. In other threads some have commented that I did not post for some reason, but I’m sorry if I did not have the time between flights to even use a wireless system.
Yesterday the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia Reps attempted twice to present a motion to invoke a 7-day clause to review the tentative agreement and hold another special MEC meeting on October 5 to vote on whether or not to send the TA out of membership ratifications, which could deny a pilot’s due process right to vote.
75 rank-and-file members attended the meeting and 3 were in favor of RC4 action and 72 were against their motion. The meeting was held behind closed doors, but to say it was emotional would be an understatement with many confrontations occurring.
MEC chairman Bill Pollock ruled that RC4 motion to invoke the 7-day clause was out of order on two separate occasions. At about 9:45 p.m. Pollock adjourned the meeting and he then called ALPA outside legal counsel Mike Abrams who was summoned to the meeting.
There are claims that the Pennsylvania Reps could invite criminal charges due to fraud, which could lead to “jail timeâ€. Lance Svendsen, Charlotte First Officer Rep told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review "have misled this pilot group using e-mails, phone calls, resolutions and council letters… Their reckless and careless agenda...has already cost this pilot group millions of dollars in lost income and benefits.''
Furthermore, there are reports that the RC4 and Negotiating Committee have violated the Landrum/Griffith act and could be held liable for millions of dollars in civil penalties. Not only could they face a judgment to pay millions of dollars in civil penalties, they would have to defend them self in court. The RC4/NC tried to indemnify the self in the process and included in the TA, the Company agreed “to indemnify the Association for fifty percent (50%) of its reasonable expenses and reasonable attorneys' fees which the Association sustains arising out of or in connection with the foregoing changes in this Letter of Agreement #93.â€
However, the RC4 will be responsible to pay at least their own legal fees for the pending lawsuits, which will occur for fraud, Duke Spellancy - DFR, and even more important violations of the Landrum/Griffith act.
The increase of the pay cut from 16.5% to 18% was included to pay for increased expenses such as indemnification, so rank-and-file members bare the brunt of failed leadership.
The MEC meeting resumed this morning at 10:00 a.m. and I am in close contact with the MEC. The Pittsburgh proffered another resolution this morning trying to invoked a 3-day period to review the TA before taking a vote on whether or not o send the resolution out for membership ratification. The RC4 now have said they need more time to study the agreement. In response, Pollock just said will keep the MEC in session now until at least 3:00 p.m. to stud ythe document with Mike Abrams.
Separately, Pollock told the MEC in “open session†that the IAM, AFA, and CWA have all approached the company to begin negotiations on interim and permanent concessions and IAM proposals will be exchanged on Tuesday. Also noteworthy, there are separate reports the IAM has elected to negotiate because in response to the Arbitrator's ruling, the company has informed the union it may move Pittsburgh maintenance in addition to seeking to have A320 and other heavy maintenace outsourcing "imposed".
Respectfully,
USA320Pilot
