June - US Pilots Labor Discussion

[Phoenix]

It is truly sad that even with the quicksand up to our ears we still have pilots who continue to think we have any fight left. Claxon continues to embarrass us and now we fight publically amongst one another. I can hear the west pilots laughing through their screens. Neither Paul nor Jamie can make a difference. We can't strike and the company holds all the cards and allows the APA to peek at them while we sit across the table trying to read their faces. I apologize for how weak we look. All we can do now is just hope for crumbs. If someone has an idea of what we can use as leverage I'd like to hear it. I watched the CLT video and can tell you it's not coc.

We could all wail like widows, beg Doug to let us take 50% pay cuts, and self-flagellate until we feel furloughs for the bottom 40% were inevitable anyway.

Maybe the APA should focus on the important things during negotiations on behalf of USAir pilots that may eventually share the cockpit with them... Adult diapers.

 

[traderjake]

Maybe the APA USAPA should focus on the important things during negotiations on behalf of USAir West pilots that may eventually share the cockpit with them... .

 

[algflyr]

Compass Correction Coalition Update (All Aboard....last call!): May 15, 2012
.....

We no longer have the luxury of time to see when or if obdurate and contrarian strategies will eventually bend the company to our will.

Man, these guys use some really, really big words... I have no idea what they mean, but they say it's really simple... They must be really smart!!! I will comply... Lol...

 

[A320 Driver]

The company wants an answer. The only people that don't want an answer from judge Silver is usapa and east pilots.

I want an answer as do many of those I work with.

Driver...

 

[fatherabraham]

You can stop with that nonsenses. Paul can do very little to onfluence events.

Dca319,

You really give me the impression of the weak sister I despise.
Let me get this strait.......I offer up my opinion of which candidate I endorse and you refer to it as nonsense. Ok.......I'll give you my opinion of nonsense:

A base the size of DCA getting 2 reps when with 4 times more pilots you would still be at 2 reps. Then a handful of the " I've got mine crowd " show up at your very low turnout % meetings and " have their way " with uninvolved . Pathetic!

To the contrary, PM will listen to WAY more pilots and respond accordingly. I've yet to meet a Phl pilot that is OK with JW vote record and WE did NOT elect him.

FA

 

[traderjake]

You really give me the impression of the weak sister I despise.

Some people confuse courage with being stupid.

 

[fatherabraham]

Some people confuse courage with being stupid.

Yup
Never held a union position so really try to withhold comments on elected leaders regarding like/dislikes of personalities . I only expect representation and will make a call when that consistently doesn't happen.
MC is no longer president. Again irrelevant if I liked him. He did represent me and majority to best of my knowledge. If not you.......so sorry. That does not make him stupid , or any other elected rep who actually REPRESENTS ( the majority ) of their constituents.
I think you make way too much outa union/mgt dialogue. It's a controversial relationship by design and all the players are big boys. Feelings are not a factor.

FA

 

[Piedmont1984]

If Paul Music is elected he will listen to the pilots you say (FA) - fine. What will you tell him to do? What do you want him to do? What is it you think Hummel MAY do which Music needs to stop? Do you want to stop a merger with AA unless the Nic is gone, or DOH is used?

In the last months of his administration Cleary sent overtures to the west seeking a compromise, Ferguson politely declined. Do you think we are in a stronger position today, six months later?

If we have leverage, tell me what it is. I've asked my BPR reps to explain how CoC would be triggered. They have not responded. Feel free to enlighten me.

BTW, if our brain trust of a union had a webboard, like ALPA did, like APA does - we could discuss and debate these important but contentious issues without Joe the Plumber chiming in or laughing at us.

 

[cleardirect]

If Paul Music is elected he will listen to the pilots you say (FA) - fine. What will you tell him to do? What do you want him to do? What is it you think Hummel MAY do which Music needs to stop? Do you want to stop a merger with AA unless the Nic is gone, or DOH is used?

In the last months of his administration Cleary sent overtures to the west seeking a compromise, Ferguson politely declined. Do you think we are in a stronger position today, six months later?

If we have leverage, tell me what it is. I've asked my BPR reps to explain how CoC would be triggered. They have not responded. Feel free to enlighten me.

BTW, if our brain trust of a union had a webboard, like ALPA did, like APA does - we could discuss and debate these important but contentious issues without Joe the Plumber chiming in or laughing at us.

I doubt that you are going to get an answer from your reps about CofC. Watch the crew news from CLT. Parker explains it clearly. Also read Hummels letter to Parker where Parker offers to send his lawyer to explain it to the usapa lawyers.

Remember that the lawyer telling usapa that CofC will happen is the same lawyer that said usapa had a good status quo case in NY. That one gone tossed after one hearing. The same lawyer that said there was nothing to worry about in NC and the illegal job action. The case that we now have an injunction hanging over our heads. That is the same lawyer that usapa hired to be our merger lawyer.

I would say that usapa is getting poor legal advice from a lawyer with a very poor track record.

 

[dca319]

Dca319,

You really give me the impression of the weak sister I despise.
Let me get this strait.......I offer up my opinion of which candidate I endorse and you refer to it as nonsense. Ok.......I'll give you my opinion of nonsense:

A base the size of DCA getting 2 reps when with 4 times more pilots you would still be at 2 reps. Then a handful of the " I've got mine crowd " show up at your very low turnout % meetings and " have their way " with uninvolved . Pathetic!

To the contrary, PM will listen to WAY more pilots and respond accordingly. I've yet to meet a Phl pilot that is OK with JW vote record and WE did NOT elect him.

FA

If by weak sister you mean someone who is on touch with the reality of the situation them yes, I'm a weak sister. What is it you think Paul can do to make our position more advantageous? With our history of losses, I can't help but have a pessimisstic view of our effectiveness. The tough talk out of the Cleary camp has produced nothing at all and yet you continue the same talk hoping for a different outcome. Insanity by definition.

 

[BoeingBoy]

I find it ironic that FA talks about "weak sisters" but then blames the former PHL ALPA reps for wanting to stop the "get a deal, any deal" and "let my daddy vote" mentality that resulted in LOA 93 being ratified. And of course wants someone hardcore that will now fight the company. Give in then, fight now, is give in up to bat next??? Or is it merely someone that will do what FA wants that has his support, no matter whether it's fight or flee in any particular situation....

Jim

 

[dca319]

If Paul Music is elected he will listen to the pilots you say (FA) - fine. What will you tell him to do? What do you want him to do? What is it you think Hummel MAY do which Music needs to stop? Do you want to stop a merger with AA unless the Nic is gone, or DOH is used?

In the last months of his administration Cleary sent overtures to the west seeking a compromise, Ferguson politely declined. Do you think we are in a stronger position today, six months later?

If we have leverage, tell me what it is. I've asked my BPR reps to explain how CoC would be triggered. They have not responded. Feel free to enlighten me.

BTW, if our brain trust of a union had a webboard, like ALPA did, like APA does - we could discuss and debate these important but contentious issues without Joe the Plumber chiming in or laughing at us.

Well said Piedmont1984. FA pounds his fists and makes demands and calls others names yet offers no solutions and doesn't a knowledge Mike Cleary's failures. We were led down a path of promises that told us of DOH, a new contract, and a strong pilot union. Instead we have FPL abuses, cronyism, no DOH, Niclau very much the likely list representing us, LOA93 instead of a new contract, censorship, and a highly unified west group of pilots that have more leverage than we do because of the potential for DFR#2. There is no coc coming and there is no three lists coming. So call me a weak sister, but our history seems to show that we will continue with our failures until we are thankfully put out of our misery. And Pilot's like FA will be bitter until the day they retire.

 

[dca319]

I would say that usapa is getting poor legal advice from a lawyer with a very poor track record.

Or cleardirect, are we getting good legal advice and just not listening to it?

 

[dca319]

I want an answer as do many of those I work with.

Driver...

Driver, once we get an answer and if it's one we don't like, then what do we do? Appeal? So are you look for your answer or an answer?

 

[dca319]

Our timing is as usual perfect.



RECALL PHL

TIME FOR CHANGE!



                   
Dear Philly based pilots:

We are part of a small group of PHL based pilots who have started a recall effort in the PHL domicile to recall PHL domicile Chairman Steve Szpyrka and PHL domicile Vice Chairman Mike Gillies.

www.pilotrecall.com

We believe that the PHL domicile deserves better representation than what we have been getting the past year under the leadership of these 2 reps. We are disappointed that our PHL reps have failed the pilots they represent on many levels.

Communications – We are tired of reading CLT domicile updates.  We are tired of waiting months for PHL updates.  The bulletin board in the PHL crew room is woefully out of date.
Representation – We have received reports of poor representation by these reps in Chief Pilot meetings.  This essential union protection is most important – yet our reps fail to treat it with the importance it demands – protecting the careers of its member pilots.
Pilot interaction – We have learned of many accounts where these reps have failed to answer requests for information.  Responding to your members is a basic function of the job and these reps fail to answer to their constituents.
Oversight – These reps have failed to provide oversight to the National Organization – allowing violations of the C&BL and the UOM.
Censored communications – Chairman Szpyrka has not allowed PHL elected reps to communicate to their members.  This is blatant censorship.
Disrespectful – These reps have been disrespectful to members who disagree with them.
Voting record – These reps have “rubber stamped” failed policies due to politics instead of acting in the best interests of the PHL domicile.
Secret Meetings – We have learned that these reps have engaged in secret meetings with the CLT reps and outgoing Officers to develop strategy to be disruptive and uncooperative for the new Officers entering office.
Unity and Consensus – These reps have failed to work to bring the pilot group together to move forward – in fact their actions have further divided the pilot group.
In the PHL domicile, we have a long history of line pilots and representatives who play an active role in union activities.  We have seen the benefit of timely communications and representatives who advocate for the pilots.  This level of activity has been missing under the leadership of Steve Szpyrka and Mike Gillies

 So how does a recall work?

Step 1:  Petitions supporting the recall must be collected from 25% of the domicile members in good standing.  This must be done and presented to the USAPA Secretary/Treasurer within 120 days of the first dated petition.

Step 2:  Once these petitions from 25% of the domicile are validated, then a recall ballot is sent to the membership of the domicile.

Step 3: If 50% plus 1 vote to recall the representatives, then the representative will be removed from office.

Where are we now? We are in step 1: Collecting petitions to force a recall ballot to be issued.

FAQ

Q. If I turn in a petition, will the representative be recalled?

A. No, it will only count towards getting a recall ballot sent out to the pilots.  Even if you sign a petition, you can still vote against a recall on the ballot.

Q. Who will replace the reps if they are recalled?

A. Replacements will be decided by the PHL pilots through the nomination and election process.  DDR’s will be appointed for the transition.

Q. If I send in a petition, will my name be made public?

A. No, the petitions will be sent to the Secretary/Treasurer and they will be kept confidential.

Please visit our recall website at:

www.pilotrecall.com

Download, print, and sign the recall petitions and mail them to the address below.

Click HERE to download mail-in petition for Steve Szpyrka!

Click HERE to download mail-in petition for Mike Gillies!  

Recall PHL
c/o Thomas
P. O. Box  444
Essington,  PA  19029
If you have any questions, we can be reached at recallphl@gmail.com

One final note: We are members in good standing, and we are exercising our right to initiate this recall effort in the PHL domicile. If you disagree with this recall, we ask that you respect our right, and the rights of other members in good standing, to pursue this endeavor. We believe that the pilots of the PHL domicile have the right to decide if they are getting the best representation available.

Jed Thomas PHL-A330

John Dubarry PHL-7i

Woody Menear