ALPA/USAPA topic of the week

[Phoenix]

Name will change. Situation won't.

It is a point missed by many. The CB&L is a larger and more enduring part of this equation.

So it goes with governments... corruption and tyranny increase until the peasants revolt and install new government. If they choose wisely the new government has a few decades of integrity and honor before succumbing to the temptations of corruption, when the cycle will repeat.

 

[nostradamus]

From the Continental Pilots non alpa web site;

"If you think throwing money at ALPA because of merger rumors will force them to perform responsibly, ask a USAIR pilot why they are decertifying ALPA A.S.A.P."

From non alpa Continental web site;;


A vote for a merger fund may be interpreted as a pilot endorsement of a merger.

We voted NO on 0802-29R (the Merger Fund)! There is no system in place to insure accountability.

It is imperative that you register AND vote NO for your vote to count as a NO vote. Not voting does not count as a NO vote.

$14 million per year in dues. $11 Million (the previous merger fund) lost to trip loss scandal. $700K lost to vacation abuse in the Fagone payback scheme and not one single non-concessionary item since ALPA returned to CAL. If you think throwing money at ALPA because of merger rumors will force them to perform responsibly, ask a USAIR pilot why they are decertifying ALPA A.S.A.P.

Why has ALPA made voting so cumbersome with VIN and PIN registration?

"The assessment, if approved by a majority of the pilots returning ballots..."

It is imperative that you register AND vote NO for your vote to count as a NO vote. Not voting does not count as a NO vote.

Representatives will attempt to intimidate you into a "yes" vote by offering a long list of fears, threats untruths and outright lies. That is, "if" you can find one to take time to answer your calls between trips to the buffet table at the "Special MEC meeting".

Until ALPA discloses a plan for full accountability for funds, We urge a NO VOTE on 0802-29R.

Continental Pilots non alpa web site, click here.

 

[Phoenix]

MEC NewsDirect #2
March 6, 2008
The MEC passed the following resolution today:

Whereas a vacancy exists on the Negotiating Committee and,

Whereas the MEC needs to fill this vacancy at this meeting because of the need to have a committee in place to conduct ongoing negotiations with the company,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the MEC shall take the following action at the 2008 first quarter meeting:

1.) In accordance with Article IV, Section 2 of the MEC Policy Manual the MEC shall elect a chairman of the negotiating committee, and

2.) If the Chairman who is elected is currently a member of the negotiating committee, the MEC will then elect an interim member to serve on the committee, and

3.) In accordance with the ALPA Merger Policy, the MEC will elect one of the members of the negotiating committee to serve as an interim member of the JNC.

Any pilot who would like to interview for the above interim Negotiating Committee/JNC position(s) or the Negotiating Committee Chairman position should contact MEC Secretary Treasurer Mike D’Angelo at mdangelo1@mac.com immediately to arrange an interview time for tomorrow.


Follow the three-prong approach, and fly safe.

ALPA has effectively stolen the election of the MEC members and the Negotiating Committee that they are holding today and tomorrow (and announcing at 8:30pm this evening). Surely there is no logical expectation that this will aid ALPA in the representational election.

It appears that Prater and his band might be on the verge of flying off in a fit of retributive vindictiveness (Some would say it started long ago with the infamous sneering Prater video).

I can't imagine the company accepting the risk of inserting themselves into this and being a party to ALPA. It would be smarter to separate two fighting dobermans by their ears.

 

[AAA73Pilot]

Well at least you are finaly admiting that you are attempting to steal the jobs of west pilots. You are now simply changing your justification to "It's the way it has always been done."

Not trying to "steal" anything. Your choice of words is most enlightening though.

Is it or is it not fair/moral/right to furlough a west pilot who brought a job to the merger while a former furloughed east pilot stays on line?

Another interesting choice of words to ask a question. You want absolutes in a gray area. So far I have typed and erased a half dozen reworded answers. So my answer has to be is it depends. Why was our furloughee brought back? Expansion or attrition?

Didn't think so.

As I said, there are no absolutes. How many jobs did each side bring at merger date? How many jobs do we have now? I don't know. How many jobs need to be cut down to the merger date total? How many jobs need to be cut beyond that total?

Though I do expect to be called an idiot or a rookie.

No I can't say that. It's hard to get or give absolutes in a gray area. For me it's a legitimate question with not enough information. And it's only my opinion anyway.

 

[AAA73Pilot]

ALPA has effectively stolen the election of the MEC members and the Negotiating Committee that they are holding today and tomorrow (and announcing at 8:30pm this evening). Surely there is no logical expectation that this will aid ALPA in the representational election.

It appears that Prater and his band might be on the verge of flying off in a fit of retributive vindictiveness (Some would say it started long ago with the infamous sneering Prater video).

I can't imagine the company accepting the risk of inserting themselves into this and being a party to ALPA. It would be smarter to separate two fighting dobermans by their ears.

Nothing logical from my vantage point.

A distinct possibility.

That's the real question anyway. What will Doug do? Sounds like a song from South Park. What would Brian Boitano Do?

With all that in mind, I am wondering how the PHL pilots feel about NO voting representation? The Dept. of Labor or even the NMB? ALPA may win and still screw themselves in court. IMO. Anything done at this meeting has no legitimacy until voting PHL reps are elected.

 

[AAA73Pilot]

FYI:

Fellow pilot,
We are pleased to announce the Interim Reps for CLT.

The USAPA Interim Officers have accepted the Steering Committee's recommendations as follows (each includes a short bio as introduction):

CLT Interim Chairman - Captain David Koseruba.

Hello everyone, I'm Dave Koseruba. I was hired at Piedmont Airlines in August of 1978 to fly the YS-11 out of the Wilmington, NC crew base (ILM). I served on our LEC as F/O Rep for three years. I transitioned to the B-737 in 1981 and upgraded to Captain in 1983. I worked in the Piedmont Training Department as Check Airman/Designee on the B-737 from 1985 to 1991. I later returned to the US Airways Training Department as Check Airman in the B-737-300 program from 2000 to 2004. I'm currently flying the A-320 out of CLT, and transitioning back to the B-767 Domestic, CLT this month.

I'm 59, and have been based in ILM, CLT, ORF, PIT, and BWI. I came to Piedmont/ US Airways from a general aviation background via Air Sunshine; a DC-3, Convair 440 airline based in Key West, FL, and Air South; a charter airline service based in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. I consider myself an "old-school" aviator who believes the Training Department and Pilot Union both work for the line pilot. I believe the pilots at US Airways are some of the very finest aviators in the world, and they prove that fact daily as they fly in the winds of changing policies, procedures, politics and degraded pay rates and job security. I consider the efforts to establish USAPA as our Pilot Union to be a most noble cause, and I am truly honored to be asked to help. I live in Wilmington, NC with my wife and daughter, and enjoy surfing, the beach, and writing/ playing music.

CLT Interim Vice-Chairman - Captain Bill McKee.

My name is Bill McKee. I was hired by Piedmont Airlines in October of 1985, and currently fly the A-320, and have previously flown the B727-200, the F-28, the 737, and the B757. My previous service to the pilots includes three years on the Membership Services Committee, and two years as Captain Representative CLT; Pilot advocate and LEC Chairman.

I want to make it clear that I do not throw my name into the hat lightly as I understand the amount of work that lies before us is considerable but with the correct mix of players will truly make us the envy of the industry as we move forward. The foundation of our new Union in the initial start up is paramount in the long term success of our endeavors. The amount of work already accomplished is unbelievable and I commend the current officers in all their efforts to not only begin this movement but to follow through with action. With the correct mix of representatives we have the opportunity with the foundations in place to finally deliver to the pilots of US Airways the representation that they deserve and total control of all our futures.

I have always been an advocate of the US Airways pilots and most importantly our profession. I fully believe in the quid-pro-quo approach where our pilot’s needs are always met to the very last man on our list. As the former Captain Rep in CLT (2000 to 2002) I saw clearly the potential devastation ahead of us in the form of regional jets and understood the consequences of what harm they would cause our pilots. One only has to look around the C-concourse to understand that our profession and jobs have been outsourced to a contract carrier while 1879 of our pilots suffered furlough and many of our Captains returned to the right seat. During my tenure I worked hard to insure that those jobs remained on our property and in the years following my departure from office LOA after LOA was passed that allowed those jobs to be eliminated.

I will dedicate my time to protect and ensure the best interests of our pilots during the up coming challenges. I am looking forward to ensuring the success of our new Union and promise that the Pilots will always have the final choice as we move forward.

CLT Interim Vice-Chairman - First Officer Steve Greif.

My name is Steve Greif. I am 47 years old, born and raised in San Jose, CA and was hired by Piedmont airlines on 1/5/87 as a 727 F/E in Norfolk, Va. After the base closure in ORF, I moved to Charlotte where I have lived in the same house for 19 years. I am married to Nikki Greif, a CLT F/A, and we are the proud parents of two young girls, Sarah(5) and Laney(3). I am now flying bottom reserve on the A-330 in CLT. I am extremely excited to accept this invitation to serve my fellow pilots as the CLT interim vice-chairman for first officers.

Welcome aboard Gentlemen.

 

[Leonidas]

FYI:

When will usapa name the phx reps?

 

[nostradamus]

Every us airways mec letter ends with "follow the three pronged approach."

duane woerth, former alpa leader, had a three pronged approach for saving pensions for airline pilots in 2003.

We are finding out now that this plagiarized saying the usairways leader of alpa uses, has not changed from woerth's.

It is impotent.

woerth's quote below from 2003 article.

"ALPA recommendations

Because of those factors, Capt. Woerth said, changes in pension-funding rules and requirements should be implemented to help airlines to maintain and fund their employees’ plans, protect workers’ retirement benefits, and ensure the financial viability of U.S. passenger airlines. He said that ALPA recommends a three-pronged approach to achieve those goals."

The three prong approach for pensions, click here

Every major airline associated with alpa lost their pension, or had it frozen. america west pilots had no pension plan, so they were saved from this hardship.

 

[nostradamus]

" ALPA created a Pilot Fatigue Task Force in 2006 to examine scientific studies on fatigue, existing regulations, and changes that had occurred as a result of air carrier bankruptcies and restructuring.

Based on this research, the group recommended a three-prong approach to mitigating pilot fatigue."

ALPA Attacks Pilot Fatigue article. union leaders use flight pay loss.

"ALPA pilots are using a three-pronged approach to ensure that these effects are positive: strengthening the structure and protocols of their own international pilot alliances, negotiating additional scope and job security protections, and using the structure of IFALPA to protect and advance global safety interests."

Seeking Global Solutions three pronged approach

 

[AAA73Pilot]

When will usapa name the phx reps?

I have no clue. Didn't expect CLT today. I thought it would have been BOS, LGA. So who knows. Maybe they haven't found anyone to step up in PHX yet. You interested? Send your resume to INFO@USairlinePilots.org. I would recommend leaving out references to farm animals though.

 

[Leonidas]

I have no clue. Didn't expect CLT today. I thought it would have been BOS, LGA. So who knows. Maybe they haven't found anyone to step up in PHX yet. You interested? Send your resume to INFO@USairlinePilots.org. I would recommend leaving out references to farm animals though.

Nah I'm to busy with the army and awappa, it will be a hoot to see who they put in out here though.

 

[AAA73Pilot]

FYI:

Fellow pilot,

In our continuing effort to bring your union to you, USAPA will hold our third Road Show on March 11th and 12th, from 9am to 4pm in the CLT Airport Business Center, top of the stairs to the left above the Food Court, Auditorium 4026. USAPA Officers, volunteers and legal representatives will be in attendance to answer your questions.

We have been asked many times about the timing of a PHX Road Show; our first PHX show, already scheduled, had to be canceled due to the unavailability of USAPA Officers and volunteers. Regretfully, until the Company grants the USAPA Officers and volunteers the same scheduling flexibility enjoyed by ALPA, we will be unable to commit to a PHX Show. Your USAPA Officers and volunteers are flying full schedules, and many of us commute to Reserve as well. Such a schedule simply does not allow the time necessary to arrange for a show hours away from domicile. We are hopeful that this situation will change.

Thank you for your continuing support.

 

[AAA73Pilot]

Nah I'm to busy with the army and awappa, it will be a hoot to see who they put in out here though.

Yep you're right about that. But if nobody steps up, it may be me!! Now that would be a hoot!!

 

[nostradamus]

Click here for the real alpa three pronged approach.


I will be gone for one week, Mr Smith goes to Washington.

 

[AAA73Pilot]

Now that's funny. Safe travels.