"This last USAPA meeting was very contentious with a majority of the BPR demanding that Gary Hummel relinquish control of the union and adhere to the Constitution and by-laws as was intended at USAPA's inception. Gary did not want to give up that control, but more and more he has acted as though the BPR is just a side show and all decisions should be made at the executive level.
The 3 PHL BPR Reps and the 3 new CLT Reps have begun the campaign to take back their rightful place in the union and it couldn't come too soon.
Whether by design or just circumstances (I'll give him the benefit of the doubt), Gary Hummel lost track of what USAPA was all about. It is a bottom up union where the members vote for BPR Representation and it's the BPR that makes the decisions. The Executive Branch has it's duties and obligations to follow the Constitution and By-laws and to follow the will of the majority of elected BPR members.
This last go around with the MOU being secretly negotiated with ZERO input by the BPR was the final straw. Once Gary and the Negotiating Committee got the MOU from the company and had the pretty brochures with the talking points all printed up, it was only than that they told the BPR what was in it. Rightfully so, the BPR and most pilots were furious at the process. How did we get the MOU? Could it have been better? What did we miss? How much more could we have received? Gary will tell you nothing, but obviously when the BPR demanded retroactive pay, the company agreed. We will never know how a unified body could have achieved more because it was never offered. The company got what it wanted us to have with no input by our pilots.
Yes, most pilots voted for the MOU because it was basically a done deal by the time the BPR and the pilot group saw the finished product. That vote doesn't justify what happened.
On the issue of Gary Hummel's eligibility to remain President after losing his medical. In another heated debate, Gary's argument was that since the company is paying him and they are not forcing him to use his sick time, he should remain President. The BPR asked the USAPA attorney if Gary could remain President forever under these circumstances with the company paying him but not having a medical, the answer was yes. This is unacceptable and the BPR passed a resolution that Gary has to get his medical back within a year or there will be a new election.
I am not questioning Gary's honesty, but I know I have a problem with Gary remaining in office, not eligible to fly, paid by the company and not having to use his sick time. It gives the appearance of a conflict of interest.
If Gary was forced to leave tomorrow, he would not be able to go back to the line, so it could be argued that he needs to remain in office to keep that paycheck coming in. You or I would be forced to use sick time until it ran out and then long term disability. As long as Gary remains President with the company paying him, he does not have to meet those requirements. It could also be argued that it's human nature to identify with the side that's paying you. I'm sure that is not happening here, but it could give that appearance, especially during negotiations.
If you are going to be a union President, you should be able to perform the duties that the other members of your union perform. That way, you have "skin" in the game. No union officer should be above the requirements that any other member must have to remain at the airline.
The other way the BPR will take back control will be by the staffing of committees that Gary has not done. The By-laws state that the President selects the committee member candidates and the BPR votes on them. By not staffing the committees, the BPR is not given the ability to decide who will be staffing those committees. With proper staffing, the BPR decides who is on the committees and once again takes control.
This last meeting is a big step for establishing the intent of USAPA and I applaud the BPR members for taking it back.
Of course, as usual DCA and PHX BPR Reps sided with Gary. The good news is the PHL and CLT are united so who cares what DCA does. They make themselves irrelevant. "
