Duane Woerth Ousted?

[loflyer]

Any truth to the rumor that Duane was ousted at the BOD meeting in LAS?

 

[CaptETWes]

I offer the press release straight off the ALPA website.


Release #06.060
October 18, 2006
ALPA Delegates Elect Capt. John Prater as President
Pilots send clear message to industry of newly aggressive stance
LAS VEGAS, NV ---- The Board of Directors of the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) today elected Captain John Prater, a B-767 Continental Airlines pilot, to serve as the 8th president in the union’s history.
This decision sends a strong signal to the airline industry that ALPA pilots are prepared to move into a new period of strong, concerted action to rebuild their profession.
“The airline pilots of the United States and Canada today sent a clear message that their union desires to return to its roots of aggressive bargaining, strict contract enforcement, tenacious organizing, and pilot action to restore our contracts and our profession,” Prater said in the wake of his election.
“After five years of concessionary bargaining, lost pensions, and battered work rules, our pilots are primed to take offensive action,” Prater continued. “This may mean a return to the hard-nosed tactics of earlier years and a grassroots mobilization of each and every one of our members.”
While the concessionary era in the airline industry is coming to a close, several airlines remain prisoners of the “1113 process” (whereby management can have labor contracts annulled by the bankruptcy court), and others are stalled in negotiations with their managements. This stagnation takes place while load factors are high, fuel prices are lower, and profits are rising.
“The airline industry survived because of the concessions pilots and other workers made,” Prater said. “Now it is time for us to see a tangible return on these bitter investments.”

 

[STINKER]

BINGO!!!!

Cheers,
Stinker

 

[Rekks Inbound]

I am so happy I could almost cry! Now with any luck all of the ALPA naysayers will start to see what a union really does for it's constituents.

Peace.

Rekks.

 

[gnx99]

Good Riddance!! Now start working on standard aircraft payrates across the industry.

 

[XJohXJ]

Yeah, not to mention: SINGLE OCCUPANCY HOTEL ROOMS, NO EXCEPTIONS. Anytime a room is needed, all airlines will pay for single occupancy rooms for all employees, trainees and new-hires.

 

[BoilerUP]

Yeah, not to mention: SINGLE OCCUPANCY HOTEL ROOMS, NO EXCEPTIONS. Anytime a room is needed, all airlines will pay for single occupancy rooms for all employees, trainees and new-hires.

That is an airline-specific problem. If you want it, negotiate it within your own MEC. As far as Prater goes, I'm sure he'll get right on that...after work starts on the more pressing National issues.

I hope all the Duane Woerth haters don't start complaining 6 months after Prater takes over that nothing has changed and start crying for his ouster too...

 

[JustaNumber]

All the "Woerth haters" were frustrated that Duane kept talking about a vague concept of "brand scope", but there clearly has been no national strategy in place. Maybe this will represent some kind of positive change for our national union....

 

[BoilerUP]

Maybe this will represent some kind of positive change for our national union....

I completely agree!

I look forward to Capt. Prater's leadership at the national level...I just hope people realize things aren't going to quickly change just because DW got sent back to the line.

 

[CaptETWes]

deleted

 

[Gofish]

Prater is a 767 Captain at Continental if I'm not mistaken. I like the idea that he is not accepting a salary any larger than his current position pays him. This is an indication that his motives are pure and he can't be bought.

 

[CaptETWes]

I'll swallow my toungue...misread it. Oopps.

 

[dash8driver]

Is it just me or did anyone else notice something missing? I noticed in the press release they referred to him as a Continental Airlines pilot...not Captain. Hopefully, that doesn't become an issue for some.

huh? your own post of the news release says "Capt. John Prater".

 

[filejw]

Boiler. It wouldn't be a airline specific problem if we had and national standard contract.

 

[CaptETWes]

huh? your own post of the news release says "Capt. John Prater".

Thus my retraction I posted after the fact. Just an oversight.

 

[BoilerUP]

Boiler. It wouldn't be a airline specific problem if we had and national standard contract.

Has Capt. Prater stated he would seek a guild style of representation?

How is that even possible with the various airlines and their pilot groups (NPA, APA, IPA, SAPA, SWAPA, etc)? Even if you could do it at all ALPA carriers, how would National address the various amendable dates? How would such a 'national standard contract' be negotiated and applied? Would it simply be a baseline for each carrier to improve on, or would it be much more far-reaching? How would things such as blended rates be addressed?

Academic discussion is one thing, but application of such a proposal is entirely another...

 

[dash8driver]

Thus my retraction I posted after the fact. Just an oversight.

ahh.. i guess i got to the quote button before you got to the edit button.

 

[XJohXJ]

Boiler. It wouldn't be a airline specific problem if we had and national standard contract.

Exactly. Besides, how are newhires supposed to argue for better conditions for newhires, if we aren't hired yet. There is an exceptional need in our industy to set some common basic standards for all pilots, wherever they shall be. Remember, it's kinda hard to stay at any one company these days, and being a newhire does not necessarily mean "wet behind the ears".

 

[thebest]

I offer the press release straight off the ALPA website.


Release #06.060
October 18, 2006
ALPA Delegates Elect Capt. John Prater as President
Pilots send clear message to industry of newly aggressive stance
LAS VEGAS, NV ---- The Board of Directors of the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) today elected Captain John Prater, a B-767 Continental Airlines pilot, to serve as the 8th president in the union’s history.
This decision sends a strong signal to the airline industry that ALPA pilots are prepared to move into a new period of strong, concerted action to rebuild their profession.
“The airline pilots of the United States and Canada today sent a clear message that their union desires to return to its roots of aggressive bargaining, strict contract enforcement, tenacious organizing, and pilot action to restore our contracts and our profession,” Prater said in the wake of his election.
“After five years of concessionary bargaining, lost pensions, and battered work rules, our pilots are primed to take offensive action,” Prater continued. “This may mean a return to the hard-nosed tactics of earlier years and a grassroots mobilization of each and every one of our members.”
While the concessionary era in the airline industry is coming to a close, several airlines remain prisoners of the “1113 process” (whereby management can have labor contracts annulled by the bankruptcy court), and others are stalled in negotiations with their managements. This stagnation takes place while load factors are high, fuel prices are lower, and profits are rising.
“The airline industry survived because of the concessions pilots and other workers made,” Prater said. “Now it is time for us to see a tangible return on these bitter investments.”

Great, another empty political promise! GO alpa? THEBEST

 

[Gofish]

IBT Zealots >>> this way. Be gone!

 

[Detroitpilot22]

is this the wild card that he had up his sleeve for mesaba?

 

[Skyward]

A national contract is a long way off, but a good start would be ALPA national setting certain contract mins and if XYZ airlines TA doesn't meet those standards don't sign it. The ALPA pres. has that power now.

 

[filejw]

Skyward is right in that is the way to start. Nobody said it wouldn't be a lot of hard work to get this done.

 

[8HourPilot]

I was thinking the same thing.

Go Tigers

is this the wild card that he had up his sleeve for mesaba?

 

[ReportCanoa]

You all think this shakeup is about regional pilots, their pitiful work rules and double-occupancy hotel rooms? Well, you're right. The first thing the "new" ALPA is going to do is throw the regional pilots they represent under the bus in effort to get back what they [legacy pilots] have lost.

The only positive thing that may come of this regime change will be the eventual elimination of the RJ as we know it.

Oh well.

 

[samfu_1]

Has Capt. Prater stated he would seek a guild style of representation?

How is that even possible with the various airlines and their pilot groups (NPA, APA, IPA, SAPA, SWAPA, etc)? Even if you could do it at all ALPA carriers, how would National address the various amendable dates? How would such a 'national standard contract' be negotiated and applied? Would it simply be a baseline for each carrier to improve on, or would it be much more far-reaching? How would things such as blended rates be addressed?

Academic discussion is one thing, but application of such a proposal is entirely another...

Just wondering...What is "guild-style" representation?

 

[TinGoose1]

It's about friggin time. Min pay rates, national negotiators, a centralized power structure within the union, and everything else that should have been done years ago. It's time for our union to actually put up a fight. We should put most, if not all of the senior leadership of ALPA on the street. These jokers have stolen as much from us as the CEO's that they claimed to fight. If nothing other than the fact that the new guy is being payed a current line pilot rate, he has my vote. Woerth was worthless.

 

[ballsdeep123]

You all think this shakeup is about regional pilots, their pitiful work rules and double-occupancy hotel rooms? Well, you're right. The first thing the "new" ALPA is going to do is throw the regional pilots they represent under the bus in effort to get back what they [legacy pilots] have lost.

The only positive thing that may come of this regime change will be the eventual elimination of the RJ as we know it.

Oh well.

One of the new Vice Presidents in ALPA National is an American Eagle pilot. That might help the regional's interests out a little bit, but who knows.

 

[PCL_128]

One of the new Vice Presidents in ALPA National is an American Eagle pilot. That might help the regional's interests out a little bit, but who knows.

Correct. Captain Bill Couette was elected to the position of VP-Admin, replacing Captain Rice who was elected to First VP. I spent some time talking with Bill over the past few days as he campaigned, and he's an excellent man. A "true believer," if you will. Bill is focused on organizing efforts to bring new pilot groups into ALPA, and that's something that he has extensive experience in. He'll be an excellent addition to this Association, and I was very happy to see him elected.

 

[Bizjet]

Correct. Captain Bill Couette was elected to the position of VP-Admin, replacing Captain Rice who was elected to First VP. I spent some time talking with Bill over the past few days as he campaigned, and he's an excellent man. A "true believer," if you will. Bill is focused on organizing efforts to bring new pilot groups into ALPA, and that's something that he has extensive experience in. He'll be an excellent addition to this Association, and I was very happy to see him elected.

Bill Couette is a top notch guy and will do an excellent job. John Prater is also a much needed change.