March, 2014 UAL alpa update, brought to you by united pilots prater, rice, gillen and brucia. these "neutral" pilots that were the watch "dogs" of the nic list.
[SIZE=medium]Anniversary and Replacement ALPA Pins[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]How does a pilot get a replacement ALPA pin, or extra ALPA pins? The easiest way is to call 888-FLY-ALPA, #3 and ask for a replacement pin. Another way is to go on the ALPA website at [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt] www.alpa.org[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt], go to the Members' Only section and look for the "My Info" link. The same page where you find your ALPA dues paid for your taxes. On the left side of that page is another link that can be clicked to order replacement ALPA pins.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]ALPA reps will send your replacement pin once they verify member status. It is recommended that pilots have at least two pins at all times. Pins break or get lost, so it's smart to have spares ready.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]ALPA is no longer automatically sending anniversary pins. If you are entitled to a new ALPA anniversary pin, you need to call and ask for a new pin. ALPA will send you two new ALPA pins, and it will take approximately two weeks to arrive.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]How does ALPA determine when a pilot reaches an anniversary date? Your time in ALPA is determined by the date a pilot first applies for membership. It is based on your very first ALPA carrier membership application, and continues through any furlough time. New hire start dates at your first ALPA carrier, and ALPA membership application dates do not always match up.[/SIZE] At United, we send in the membership applications and forms in the pilot's first week at United.
[SIZE=12pt]We've had an instance where a pilot's anniversary date was off by as much as approximately six years. [/SIZE] (the nic award put new hire west pilots above 17 year East pilots [POSTER ADDED COMMENT}) This was caused when the first airline did not send in his ALPA membership application promptly, if at all. Then the pilot was furloughed for almost six years. When he
[SIZE=12pt]returned from furlough, the airline sent in a new ALPA application form, thereby delaying his "official" start date with ALPA by six years. This certainly was not the pilot's fault, but ALPA can only send anniversary pins based on their records.[/SIZE]