US Airways ALPA LEC Council 135 (LGA) Update - August 18, 2007
Fellow LGA pilots:
It has come to our attention that ALPA National Officers and members of the Rice Committee are going to pursue a campaign to communicate directly with you. We only became aware that such a "communication" session was scheduled for LGA the same way you did, on very short notice via a mass distributed Fast Read e-m.
As a matter of protocol and common courtesy, you would think that those who contrived such a communication session might have contacted the local Reps for their input on the proceedings prior to scheduling the event. This however was not the case. This lack of decorum gives the appearance of ALPA National intentionally circumventing proper protocol in an attempt to address pilots directly without their Representatives present. It is the sort of contemptible and irresponsible activity management would engage in during contentious contract negotiations. While we would expect such disrespectful action by management personnel, we would not expect it nor will we tolerate it from the leadership of our Association.
As Representatives it is our duty to provide opportunities for communication that are both open and safe from public scrutiny. Apparently it is the intention of the President of the Association and others within the ALPA National structure to spend time talking to pilots in the food court in the LGA Terminal. The session scheduled by ALPA National focuses on internal ALPA matters, yet the National Communications dpartment and apparently ALPA National Officers believe that it is perfectly fine to conduct internal ALPA communications sessions openly in public.
We as your Reps cannot fathom a much worse situation than to have pilots in uniform engage the Officers of the Association, the EC or the Rice Committee in an open public forum, especially during these times when emotions are running so high. There is too much exposure for any pilot to saying something in an open public forum which might cause negative attention to be focused on them individually. Such an occurrence might well be viewed by management as "conduct unbecoming" while "representing the crporation" in uniform, and could lead to disciplinary action. We find the notion of conducting open public meetings to be ill conceived and naive on the part of those who conjured up the idea, and poentially "dangerous" for our pilots.
While we appreciate the fact that Captain Prater members of the EC and the Rice Committee have made themselves available for direct communication with you, we do not appreciate the fact that we were neither notified of the event, nor invited to participate in it. We also object to it being held in the food court and will do what we can to ensure that forum is not utilized during this session. We strongly believe that NO pilot should engage the ALPA National personnel in a public venue. It is our intention to escort Captain Prater down to the Crew room, and provide an opportunity for you to speak with him out of ear shot of the public. Please do no place yourself in a jeopardy situation by engaging anyone from ALPA National in eyesight or earshot of the public. Save that for the private forum we intend to provide, as nothing good will likely come for an open of such an exchange in a public setting.
Fraternally,
Don & Sergio
