Until the company simultaneously threatens all west pilots with termination for not paying shop fees I don't see USAPA getting any west money.
I don't know the process in the west contract, on the east side the reference is:
SECTION 29 - AGENCY SHOP AND DUES CHECK-OFF:
(A) Each employee of the Company covered by this Agreement who fails to
voluntarily acquire or maintain membership in the Association shall be required, as a
condition of employment, beginning sixty (60) days after the effective date of this
Agreement or sixty (60) days after the completion of his probationary period, whichever
is later, to pay the Association each month a service charge as a contribution for the
administration of the Agreement and the representation of such employee. The service
charge for the first month shall be in an amount equal to the Association's regular and
usual initiation fees and monthly dues, and for each month thereafter in an amount
equal to the regular and usual monthly dues and periodic assessments (not including
fines and penalties), including MEC assessments (not including fines and penalties)
uniformly required as a condition of acquiring or retaining membership.
(B.) If any employee of the Company covered by this Agreement becomes delinquent
in the payment of this service charge or any Association member becomes delinquent
in payment of his initiation fees and/or dues, and/or periodic assessments (as defined
in Paragraph (A) above), the Association shall notify such employee by certified mail,
return receipt requested, copy to the Company's Vice President - Labor Relations, that
he is delinquent in the payment of such service charge, initiation fee and/or
membership dues and/or periodic assessments as specified herein and is subject to
discharge as an employee of the Company. Such letter shall also notify the employee
that he must remit the required payment within a period of fifteen (15) days or be
discharged.
(C.) If, upon the expiration of the fifteen (15) day period, the employee still remains
delinquent, the Association shall certify in writing to the Company's Vice President -
Labor Relations, copy to the employee, that the employee has failed to remit payment
within the grace period allowed and is therefore to be discharged. The Company's Vice
President - Labor Relations shall thereupon take steps to discharge such employee
from the service of the Company.
As a divided pilot group works to managements advantage I doubt that they are going to threaten 1800 pilots.
Thats OK. Then we'll let the company make up for the dues shortfall. I don't think that will last too long, do you?
Even if this comes to pass there are already grounds for a DFR suit. This will probably be an advantageous time to file the suits and seek injunctive relief for shop fee collection.
Good luck with that. You're going to need it.
