ALPA Thread 12/30 to 1/6--ALL ALPA/USAPA discussed here

[end_of_alpa]

U-SAPs will be unable to financially support itself, regardless of what its supporters might tell you.

The company will be loathe to dismiss 1/2 of it's pilots (100% of west plus a sizeable portion of the east with buyers remorse) en masse for dues delinquency, leaving the other 1/2 to pick up the slack through higher dues an assessments (and that doesn't even begin to cover the legal fees to fight the west). So while 1/2 of the pilots (who are wondering what they're getting for their money) are getting soaked, the joint negotiations will be at the same standstill. The west will never agree to a contract without Nicolau to the letter, and the east will never be able to open section 6 to get out from under LOA93.

So if you vote in U-SAPs you get an inexperienced, underfunded representitive that ends up costing more, but not delivering on any of its promises except that it got rid of ALPA. You lose all bargaining leverage because you are obviously disfunctional and overwhelmed by legal challenges and costs. The leadership failure will not attract talented volunteers. Those with experience want to be part of a winning team, and U-SAPs cannot provide that. Many volunteers do not want to be tarred with the U-SAPs label and will stay away and devote themselves to getting ALPA back on property, a task made easier by U-SAPs failures. The quick rush of victory will be quickly quelled as the reality of how far back the process to improve all US Airways pilots careers has been set.

If you vote for ALPA you get a well financed, experienced representitive that can deliver a contract that makes significant improvements in all pilots pay and benefits. ALPA is the most stable base from which to reach for these improvements. ALPA does not have an anti-US Airways east agenda, unlike U-SAPs transparent anti-west agenda. They have a duty to defend the arbitration process. It didn't go the east's way, but they can learn from this should they face arbitration in the future.

ALPA is far from perfect, but it's benefits far outweigh the potential liabilities inherent in U-SAPs. The AAA MEC is doing a grave disservice to its pilots by remaining silent on U-SAPs.

Before you vote, make sure the used car U-SAPs is selling you is worth the price. Ask hard questions and demand solid answers, not opinions or rhetoric. Determine for yourself if the quickest, surest way to improve your career lies with an underfunded, inexperienced union who is long on red-meat sound bites, and who relies almost exclusively on stoking the fears of a westie invasion, but woefully short on legitimate solutions.

OK. Lets be real here.

All the benefits and work you talk about COMES from the "sweat equity" of the pilots in their respective MECs and volunteers. And you imply that NONE or FEW, at least on the West and maybe a few on the East, will "quit" out of spite. Suit yourself but all that happens is you cut your nose off to spite you face. Again, it's really all about CHOICES now, isn't it?

The only thing ALPA really provides is some of your dues money back through "flight loss pay" and MOSTLY to administrative tasks, the rest of it going into the MCF. Besides, the MAIN reason for the large amounts of money in the MCF serves only one real purpose...STRIKE BENEFITS. So you tell me, with all that is going on right now, who is going to strike, at least at this company, in any case? If you want to address the issue of "underfunded" tell me? If funding IS important, what has all that "excess" cash that ALPA has in the MCF done for us up to this point? Remember, over 10 million per year of the dues money we already pay in, much of that is in the MCF and has NOT been returned to us.

As far as committee members and volunteers, do you think that USAPA is going to throw out all that valuable experience? That EXPERIENCE is OUR experience, not ALPA nationals! The overwhelming amount of volunteers and committee members doing work for US in ALPA will be doing the SAME JOBS in USAPA! Only two things are really changing...the representatives and the officer structure which will now be IN HOUSE. Our president WILL BE a US Airways pilot, as will all the officers and representatives. In FACT, I WOULD DEFINITELY NOT BE OPPOSED TO VOTING FOR SOMEONE LIKE MCILVENNA FOR PRESIDENT! How do you like THAT!

So, if the ONLY reason your voting for ALPA is "the list" and the only reason I'm voting USAPA is the CHOICE then we will just have to see. "THE list" or "THE CHOICE"? Which works better?
Here is the real difference between you and I. You see the "lesser of two evils". I see the "greater of two possibilities". You see them as ALPA and I see US as USAPA. You see the glass 1/3 empty. I see the glass 2/3rds FULL. You read ALPAs "Point of View". I live our 2/3rds "perspective". Isn't this REALLY where we're going with this?

As far as the DFR lawsuit issue that your talking about, again...more fear, uncertainty and doubt. I can tell you other unions have experienced the costs of major litigation regarding DFR and found them well within their budgetary capacity. With the size of our group the numbers show that won't be a problem. I can assure you that if you do a cursory "quick" crunch on the numbers you will find that 2/3 of the pilots paying dues is more than ample to handle both the management of the union, negotiating a contract and even...YES...a dreaded DFR lawsuit. Even if those pilots who sued the union WON, the ruling would not be for years and any money awarded, if any, would not be paid out until the appeals process is complete. And even then if you DO win damages, the union will be paying your dues money back to you or in the alternative, if it DID bankrupt the union (which it would'nt) who's going to protect your interests then? If ALPA, they wouldn't be back for YEARS at best.

So, back to earth. If you are not going to pay dues why don't you be the first to volunteer your service to help the others NOT PAY if USAPA gets in and let the chips fall. I can assure you that 1/3, one third...ONE THIRD of the pilots out West will square with this. One way or the other.

So what you REALLY are saying here is that ALPA pilots from OTHER airlines can represent us better than we can represent ourselves. Are we that lazy?

What are they doing that we are not ALREADY doing for ourselves? Remember, it's OUR guys running the MEC...not theirs!

Been around unions much?

 

[exB717Flyer]

The TWA pilots did this with Ozark.

And do you know why the TWA pilots favored a DOH integration so much with Ozark? Because the effect was practically a staple-job. Carl Icahn was also part of the process when he threatened to furlough every Oz pilot if they didn't "agree" to an integration in a matter of days. The TWA MEC helpfully advised the OZ MEC to do what Uncle Carl said. The arrogant TWA MEC guys of 1986 are long since retired but the arrogant APA guys loved to through this back in our faces during the AA/TWA merger. You know, the "what goes around comes around" thing. The rest of the industry is watching and if there really is another merger involving USAirways your attitudes won't be forgotten. Your version of unionism is despicable: if you don't get what you want dump unions until you do. It also doesn't work.

 

[end_of_alpa]

And do you know why the TWA pilots favored a DOH integration so much with Ozark? Because the effect was practically a staple-job. Carl Icahn was also part of the process when he threatened to furlough every Oz pilot if they didn't "agree" to an integration in a matter of days. The TWA MEC helpfully advised the OZ MEC to do what Uncle Carl said. The arrogant TWA MEC guys of 1986 are long since retired but the arrogant APA guys loved to through this back in our faces during the AA/TWA merger. You know, the "what goes around comes around" thing. The rest of the industry is watching and if there really is another merger involving USAirways your attitudes won't be forgotten. Your version of unionism is despicable: if you don't get what you want dump unions until you do. It also doesn't work.

Actually, I agree with you about the "goes around comes around thing". Unfortunately, the TWO scenaros you just described are EXACTLY how it works. And if YOU were in the majority, you would have done the same or similar thing. NO?

Unfortunatly it is NOT my version of unionism...it IS unionism. And that, sir, is the very reason belonging to a NATIONAL union with no specific intergration policy will NEVER work unless and UNTIL your paycheck comes from the UNION and NOT THE COMPANY!

 

[CactusFlyr]

Bad scene isn't it?? Solution, chapter 7 liquidation and we all go our seperate ways... Fate finally correcting what it should have done in 05 usair gone for good. Good luck in the new year...

I Like it.

 

[luvn737s]

So, back to earth. If you are not going to pay dues why don't you be the first to volunteer your service to help the others NOT PAY if USAPA gets in and let the chips fall. I can assure you that 1/3, one third...ONE THIRD of the pilots out West will square with this. One way or the other.

I'm not following you here. "Square" with what? I doubt anyone needs to encourage any west pilot to not be an accomplice to the destruction of their career by funding an organization that cannot duplicate the abilities of the one it's replacing. Could you post the percentage of east pilots who are currently in bad standing with ALPA? It should be a number readily available.

So what you REALLY are saying here is that ALPA pilots from OTHER airlines can represent us better than we can represent ourselves. Are we that lazy?

No, it's fairly plain that what I'm saying is that ALPA does not have an agenda to disenfrachise a large percentage of the US pilots. I'm saying that ALPA has sufficient resouces to represent the pilots adequately. They will not have to remove the tool of self-help because they can't afford it. Is U-SAPs policy going to be NO-STRIKE? Are they planning to be an advisor to management or an advocate for the pilots?

What are they doing that we are not ALREADY doing for ourselves? Remember, it's OUR guys running the MEC...not theirs!

YOUR guys are running the MEC - into the ground! What was done in arbitration cannot be undone. I wish they had chosen a more flexible stance and avoided arbitration altogether, but that didn't happen. Both sides participated fully in the process and neither was complaining of inherent unfairness prior to the arbitrator's decision. There are some things in life that cannot be undone, and this is one of them.

Been around unions much?

A little over 20 years. That e'nuff?

 

[exB717Flyer]

And if YOU were in the majority, you would have done the same or similar thing. NO?

Not only no, but HE11 NO! You mistakenly presume I'm as selfish as you are.

Before Nicolau ruled I was nervous. I didn't know how badly things would turn out for me yet I was comforted by the knowledge that we'd gone through a fair process -- a process denied to us at TWA.

Do you think an arbitrator would've ruled similarly to what the APA imposed on TWA? (My guess is we'd have gotten something better. Regardless, I'd have been willing to risk it.) How would you have fashioned the TWA-AA integration? Keep in mind that due to the demographics of that merger a DOH integration would've been very close to Relative Seniority. The APA stapled 2/3 of the TWA list and ratioed the top third up from the bottom at 7:1. The STL base was fenced so that a minumum number of now-junior TWA pilots could keep their captain seats -- a variable number based on the number of captains in ORD and DFW. To this day many at AA complain that exTWers are "stealing" their captain seats. This is what happens when one pilot group gets to unilaterally decide an integration and it's also why ALPA Merger Policy is the most fair way there is. Every merger is different so no one-size-fits-all integration scheme exists. I guarantee that if DOH didn't favor you you'd be against it. I favor ALPA Merger Policy no matter what.

 

[exB717Flyer]

Interestingly enough there is NOT ONE mention of the arbitrator. Yet USAPA's interim president complains that the Nic fails to meet these goals!

Of course you're correct that the arbitrator is not bound by those five tenets but I'll hastily add that clearly Nicolau felt bound by them and ruled accordingly.

 

[end_of_alpa]

Not only no, but HE11 NO! You mistakenly presume I'm as selfish as you are.

Before Nicolau ruled I was nervous. I didn't know how badly things would turn out for me yet I was comforted by the knowledge that we'd gone through a fair process -- a process denied to us at TWA.

Do you think an arbitrator would've ruled similarly to what the APA imposed on TWA? (My guess is we'd have gotten something better. Regardless, I'd have been willing to risk it.) How would you have fashioned the TWA-AA integration? Keep in mind that due to the demographics of that merger a DOH integration would've been very close to Relative Seniority. The APA stapled 2/3 of the TWA list and ratioed the top third up from the bottom at 7:1. The STL base was fenced so that a minumum number of now-junior TWA pilots could keep their captain seats -- a variable number based on the number of captains in ORD and DFW. To this day many at AA complain that exTWers are "stealing" their captain seats. This is what happens when one pilot group gets to unilaterally decide an integration and it's also why ALPA Merger Policy is the most fair way there is. Every merger is different so no one-size-fits-all integration scheme exists. I guarantee that if DOH didn't favor you you'd be against it. I favor ALPA Merger Policy no matter what.

OK. Well then maybe you wouldn't have voted that way and to that I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. I wouldn't have voted to "endtail" your group to the bottom here, either. But again, were off point. Whether I vote one way or you vote another is immaterial. It is how the majority votes and whether you agree with it on not. So lets say your votes and my votes cancel out. What votes are left?

And that, sir, is the POINT. Whether you think it is fair that APA stapled or not is irrelevant. I WOULD have favored DOH with fences/restrictions. But even if I were the judge, I would be bound to refrain from ruling against one side or the other if the majority favored one method or the other and the test for "reasonableness" was met. I agree with you that it was NOT fair. The "fairness" test and 'reasonable" test are not necessarily the same. What I AM saying is that the majority of the pilot group exercised what THEY thought was fair. Fairness is in the eyes of the majority. Reasonablness is in the eyes of the judge. If the majority of the combined APA/TWA pilots took a vote and chose either the way it was done or TWA pilots way, which way would THEY have voted? They simply used their majority to their advantage. I have spoken with Bud Bensel on this and I really like Bud. It wasn't fair, certainly. But it HAS played out unfortunatly. Look neither you nor I merged this company. US Airways/AWA chose that path. It wasn't up to either of us...unless Doug called you for his opinion. I do not think he called your MEC for one. He just told you.

But that's not where its played out, now is it. It gets played out in court as it did there and so it will be here. (please don't bring up the Arbitrator decision again...we KNOW a DFR suit is coming. That's fine.)

I guarantee that if DOH didn't favor me that, as much as I wouldn't like it, in a court of law I WOULD have to accept their decision, ultimately. In labor unions, possession is 9/10ths of the law until proven otherwise. This issue of seniority integration cannot be repaired in the National scheme unless AND until there is either a standardized method, like a federal statute (which would be quetionable at best) or control of the pilot "product".

Until then, we'll just have to make do.

 

[Richard]

Folks,

Thanks for improving the demeanor in here--greatly appreciated.

Now a request...please stop quoting entire lengthy posts in your replies--if you must quote, please cut and paste ONLY the relevent information you are commenting on--this thread is getting sloppy with lengthy requotes of previous posts--it makes the boards hard to read and wastes bandwidth. This is actually a policy of the board, but I'd like to make it a request first...

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Happy New Year

Richard

 

[end_of_alpa]

I'm not following you here. "Square" with what? I doubt anyone needs to encourage any west pilot to not be an accomplice to the destruction of their career by funding an organization that cannot duplicate the abilities of the one it's replacing. Could you post the percentage of east pilots who are currently in bad standing with ALPA? It should be a number readily available.



No, it's fairly plain that what I'm saying is that ALPA does not have an agenda to disenfrachise a large percentage of the US pilots. I'm saying that ALPA has sufficient resouces to represent the pilots adequately. They will not have to remove the tool of self-help because they can't afford it. Is U-SAPs policy going to be NO-STRIKE? Are they planning to be an advisor to management or an advocate for the pilots?



YOUR guys are running the MEC - into the ground! What was done in arbitration cannot be undone. I wish they had chosen a more flexible stance and avoided arbitration altogether, but that didn't happen. Both sides participated fully in the process and neither was complaining of inherent unfairness prior to the arbitrator's decision. There are some things in life that cannot be undone, and this is one of them.



A little over 20 years. That e'nuff?

According to Dave Blomgren in one of the U-turn issues, your MEC ain't doing so hot either. In fact, I'll even do you one better. We need to get rid of our MEC. That is one of the main reasons for USAPA...new leadership. Former MEC Rep Dave Blomgren thinks you could use it too:

"I have been asked by many pilots, "How do we get out of this mess that we find ourselves in?" The new group of Rep's has blown almost everything they have touched, but that is another story for a different time, (the pilots who voted the Reps in, made there choice and now we all have to live with it, good or bad". Dave Blomgren, U-turn.

If you guys "think" you have a lock on bad leadership then get in line with the rest of us!

USAPA has no agenda other than this: NEW LEADERSHIP. LET THE PILOT'S CHOOSE. That, Sir, is the only TRUE goal. Disenfranchisment has NEVER been the purpose or goal as far as I can tell. You may perceive it that way but, again, that is your perception. As far as a "no-strike" policy I am not aware of any. As far as a "can not strike" policy because of unified support, that's a different issue. As far as money to support a strike? That points moot if you can't definitively confirm the former. But from the feedback I get from both sides...I would say strike action won't happen here for quite some time so having money in the bank for a strike becomes moot. FYI.

I do not know the number in bad standing. I was but I'm caught up. If you've seen my prior posts, you'll know why.

As far as resourses, let me repeat....that will NOT be a problem. What I am saying is that, with the pilots group already polarized, any moneys in a strike fund at this juncture of time or even in the next few years will be pointless...even from ALPA. Why? Because IF the East pilots won't vote for a TNA because there isn't enough money in it to placate the majority because of "the list" and Kirby already told your guys at the roadshow 07 October 2007 and I quote:

"Company wants to get a deal done (with the pilots) but a deal that is competitive and economic. We made 500 mil last year, the industry made 2 billion, the industries fixed and comes after four or five years of losing 50 billion, this industry is one fuel price spike, one terrorist event, one recession away from being right back in bankruptcies door...we're not going to do something that jeopardizes the financial future of the company.

We're putting 122 million dollars on the table, (yearly) a pretty big number, almost a 20 percent increase on pilots pay, I can guarantee you we don't have any other line item that we've offered to increase by 20 percent.

The ask, the last time I say an ask by the union, BEFORE the Nicolau award, was 450 million. That would have represented about a 75 percent increase in pilot payroll costs. That's more than we could afford. That's more than we can do. We're anxious to get back and start negotiating but if anyone thinks they can "buy off" the Nicolau award, we don't have enough money in the bank to do that."

then the pilots "striking" over "the list" won't be supported by the West...will it? And certainly ALPA National won't supply money from the MCF to strike for that? Will they? (even IF Beebe is the Treasurer.) So much for MCF money from ALPA for any 'strike".

And I didn't say that. Kirby did! And it doesn't matter here whether you or I believe that....HE DOES. And that does matter because HE SIGNS THE PAYCHECKS!

So what makes you think any "ONE" side could strike if we KNOW one side or the other won't support it. Kirby knows it. Watch the TAPE!

The sad fact is that, if anything OUR group could possibly stand a strike for a short time maybe because you guys are not trained on East international and/or 190s and to do that would take a severe amount of resourses away from the company to fix it in both time and money.

NOW I AM NOT ADVOCATING THIS AND I WOULD NOT SUPPORT THIS BUT, in theory, if anything...your side, on the other hand is vulnerable in this respect and therefore easier to replace with the pilots from the EAST side who are already CQFO's. Again I AM NOT ADVOCATING THIS! But that's just me. The question you need to be asking is if not me...THEN WHO DOES? And calling guys "scabs" doesn't make them one unless they actually DO scab. (700UW, no need to reply...everyone knows YOU think EAST pilots here are scabs anyway so I'll just say it for you and get that off your chest. OK?) And since we have a contract, we couldn't strike (sympathy or otherwise). NO?

As far as the arbitration issue again we'll let's say that has yet to be settled and leave it at that. Never say something can never been done or undone in labor law. There are exceptions to every rule. And this situation is certainly one of them. At least McIlvenna seems to think so.

 

[end_of_alpa]

Folks,

Thanks for improving the demeanor in here--greatly appreciated.

Now a request...please stop quoting entire lengthy posts in your replies--if you must quote, please cut and paste ONLY the relevent information you are commenting on--this thread is getting sloppy with lengthy requotes of previous posts--it makes the boards hard to read and wastes bandwidth. This is actually a policy of the board, but I'd like to make it a request first...

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Happy New Year

Richard

Your welcome. As long as you can keep "she that shall not be named" at bay you will not have to worry about civility on my end or in the forum.

I'll certainly make every attempt to comply with the second. Thanks for the input. (P.S. anyway to get spell check in the forum.?)

 

[b737fo]

According to Dave Blomgren in one of the U-turn issues, your MEC ain't doing so hot either. In fact, I'll even do you one better. We need to get rid of our MEC. That is one of the main reasons for USAPA...new leadership. Former MEC Rep Dave Blomgren thinks you could use it too:

If you guys "think" you have a lock on bad leadership then get in line with the rest of us!

Using articles from that fish wrap U-turn or citing DB's opinions as a representation of the rank and file Westies is a total miscalculation. There will always be a group of vocal pilots that seem to want to change leadership at all levels and frankly I think that is what makes the process healthy. We've already seen this at United and as Nos has cited a small cadre that has developed at American Eagle. But to gauge the sentiment of an entire pilot group off a few web posts or some fancy new website is a mistake.

I usually form my opinion of what is best for myself and the rest of the pilot group on the exact opposite of what former MEC rep Blomgren thinks. Before I get flamed for this post too, this is in no reference to USAPA as anyone can see it is more than just a vocal minority over on the East pushing for the change.

 

[exB717Flyer]

It is how the majority votes and whether you agree with it on not.

You seem confused on the whole "majority rules" thing. The majority doesn't vote on every law. We vote in our reps and they make the laws. Very few things are sent to the populace for a vote because it's a cumbersome process. The MAJORITY of ALPA pilots, as represented by the Executive Board, ratified ALPA Merger Policy and nowhere within that policy is there a vote by the populace. The fact that a majority of the pilots of one airline favor an integration which favors them isn't exactly a surprise but it is exactly why ALPA Merger Policy doesn't allow one airline to take advantage of another purely due to its size. That's what you're saying, after all, is that you should win becaue you're bigger. Might doesn't make right.

If the majority of the combined APA/TWA pilots took a vote and chose either the way it was done or TWA pilots way, which way would THEY have voted? They simply used their majority to their advantage.

THERE WAS NO VOTE! And their leverage wasn't so much in their size but in TWA being in bankruptcy court. We were coerced into giving up our right to arbitration because if we didn't the judge would've abrogated our whole contract. AA would've gotten the sale to close one way or another. I applaud the fact that USAirways being in Chapter 11 at the time of the merger didn't adversely affect your rights to a fair integration process. Consider yourself lucky in that regard. But the damage to your careers was already done and your bitter disappointment in Nicolau's decision is misplaced. USAPA will not make you whole again because it isn't possible.

I guarantee that if DOH didn't favor me that, as much as I wouldn't like it, in a court of law I WOULD have to accept their decision, ultimately.

Got news for ya: Nicolau essentially WAS a court of law. He was your day in court and he's ruled. No judge will ever second-guess his decision, I guarantee you.

This issue of seniority integration cannot be repaired in the National scheme unless AND until there is either a standardized method, like a federal statute (which would be quetionable at best) or control of the pilot "product".

You erroneously assume ALPA Merger Policy is broken. DOH isn't in it for a reason and the AWA/AAA integration is a prime example. DOH so blatantly favors the East it can't possibly be considered proper. That's why we ended up in arbitration and no matter how many times you say Nicolau was unfair the fact remains that he's the one who got to decide what fair is. And you empowered him to do so.

 

[end_of_alpa]

Using articles from that fish wrap U-turn or citing DB's opinions as a representation of the rank and file Westies is a total miscalculation. There will always be a group of vocal pilots that seem to want to change leadership at all levels and frankly I think that is what makes the process healthy. We've already seen this at United and as Nos has cited a small cadre that has developed at American Eagle. But to gauge the sentiment of an entire pilot group off a few web posts or some fancy new website is a mistake.

I usually form my opinion of what is best for myself and the rest of the pilot group on the exact opposite of what former MEC rep Blomgren thinks. Before I get flamed for this post too, this is in no reference to USAPA as anyone can see it is more than just a vocal minority over on the East pushing for the change.

I wasn't implying that his statement was more than it was. I was just pointing out that "he" doesn't have a lock on complaints against leadership. 🙂 Again, it was "one man's opinion". Evidently to you he is a vocal miniority and I'll defer to you on that point. After all, he was YOUR prior MEC rep, not mine.

And again,

"But to gauge the sentiment of an entire pilot group off a few web posts or some fancy new website is a mistake."

we can agree.

And you may call it "USAPA...more than a vocal minority" I would also agree with you. (See, we agree more than you think.) And for the "piece de resistance" you and I agree AGAIN! The process IS healthy (which is why I'm going running here shortly.)

(I don't see anything wrong with your post....stop being so defensive! ;-) VBG!)

 

[prechilill]

No surprised, but USAPA is already asking for more handouts. Less than a third of the pilots have donated and we haven't even seen the first of many lawsuits coming from the west and they are in need of money. Pathetic. Sometimes you just can't help but to laugh at people...

From the USAPA treasurer (who can't seem to get his Roman calendar straight):

"(02Jan2007)

Subject: "The Calm Before The Storm..."


Mark King here, the interim USAPA treasurer with an update to our loyal members. I know most of your are patiently waiting for something to happen..anything..that will accelerate USAPA to its destiny as your new union. The Federal Government works in mysterious ways. The NMB process was not only sidetracked by the Holidays, but also by ALPA National's angst over our Single Carrier status. I believe the NMB will have the issues sorted out in days, rather than weeks..and we will soon find ourselves in what could only be called a "particle acceleration chamber " of activity.....an actual election to determine who will represent you for the rest of your careers. When the election is called, the full force of ALPA and its funds will be upon us. Remember, our pilots alone pay over 30K per day in ALPA dues.

For the last six months I have continued the drumbeat that each pilot needs to donate at least $200 our cause. Over 3000 of you turned in a card. 2/3 of you have sent nothing, nada, zip in the way of moneys. Our volunteers are working for free. Many won't even cash their expense checks, much less even claim them in the first place. From $200 cell phone bills, to office supplies, to you name it...this volunteer group is carrying the water for this pilot group. We are doing this because we believe in USAPA, and we believe we can win the election. I have backed off a bit during the last month on fundraising...the usual suspects keep donating, and the rest of you sit idly by hoping for the latest bit of USAPA news.

Now is the time to donate. I have said many times I am uncomfortable asking for moneys. Not any more. If you see me, in the crewroom, in the jetway, or in a crew van...I will be asking you point blank if you support this cause..and I will be asking for a donation. I expect every volunteer in this organization to do the same, and I expect every pilot to look to the other seat in the cockpit and ask the question..have you sent money to USAPA? EVERY pilot is sending ALPA a nice donation twice a month. When the election is called, each pilot will be able to vote his heart and intelligence on who will represent this pilot group going forward. Your vote will be your little secret..as it should be. But from here forward, just as I will always know who sent in a card...a record, win or lose the election, will always be kept of who really supported this effort. There was a logical reason for every pilot to send in his or her card. I believe there is a logical reason to send in a donation..even if you are still on the fence. At least give this group of volunteers a chance to show you our stuff...we have a very competent and efficient union on the way for you...but if we are swamped with legal fees and the like during the heat of the battle..we will have no choice other than to simply stop our efforts cold if we run out of moneys. Let there be no doubt..the day USAPA takes office we will be more than ready to represent you, with the full force of union dues and lines of credit. But up until that day, that wonderful day, we are dependent upon donations.

Many pilots are already in the $1000 club..in fact one pilot just wrote us a check for $4500. One of our C/Os is challenging each F/O he works with to donate..then he donates double their amount! Many pilots have easily given their $200 through monthly donations of $25 or $50..and that has really worked great. No more. I need your money NOW. The battle is days away and I simply don't have time to wait 6 months for your donation to be complete. If you really believe in our cause, like I do..then beg, borrow or steal and come up with a donation. This is no longer a spectator event, and I want so see a couple of thousand of you pony up.

This is it folks. Our time is short. We need more funds.

Best to you all,"