New AAI ALPA Strategy: Fire SWA Haters!

[dicko]

I'm going to call Slick and Mama-San and found out what's going on.............

I just did the same.

 

[texman]

Nope.

OOOOOOOoooooo. What happen Ty man? More drama! Please tell!

 

[BlueBlood]

Recall at this time isn't good and I hope you guys get past this and are able to focus on the task at hand.

I wish both sides much luck and blue skies!

 

[texman]

Recall at this time isn't good and I hope you guys get past this and are able to focus on the task at hand.

I wish both sides much luck and blue skies!

Please educate, or expand.

 

[malibuVride]

This is just plain embarrasing! So much for thinking the drama went away with NPA. Maybe AP and MB weren't the only problem. It seems to run much deeper with this group.

The worst part of all is that he was recalled for supposedly interfering with the MC and the SLI talks. Wasn't LH the one who attended the SLI talks in Dallas?

Who was it that, afterwards, assured this group there was no interference with the MC? Who was it that said the MC is autonomous? And who is still in charge? Isn't there a whole other thread deticated to that person?

 

[ATRCA]

A buddy of mine from the Tranny sent me a text saying his union recalled their Vice Chair yesterday. Wow! That's pretty bold given the task at hand. If I'm not mistaken, United ALPA just did the same thing and it has really slowed the pace of their SLI talks.

Apparently this is nothing new however. NPA wrote the book on recalling reps. An old saying comes to mind. Something like, "You can take the girl out of the trailer park, but you can't take the trailer park out of the girl!"

I have no information about the goings on at AAI but with regard to your assertions regarding UAL and "SLI talks," you are mistaken. There are no discussions about the CAL/UAL SLI at this point. All energy is being spent on the JCBA which will be concluded prior to SLI negotiations...

 

[-9Capt]

I cant see how this guys removal shouldn't have any effect on SLI whatsoever.

 

[redflyer65]

Who was it that, afterwards, assured this group there was no interference with the MC? Who was it that said the MC is autonomous? And who is still in charge? Isn't there a whole other thread deticated to that person?

I had forgotten about him doing that, but you are absolutely right. Interesting stuff..

 

[zippy32]

I cant see how this guys removal shouldn't have any effect on SLI whatsoever.

That's a double negative. Was that what you meant to say or a typo?

 

[Lear70]

That's a double negative. Was that what you meant to say or a typo?

It's a typo if I'm not mistaken, knowing him and his thoughts on issues lately and he's right in that ANY ONE person's removal isn't going to affect the SLI. It will, however, affect the ability of the Association to run smoothly. TO didn't have much of a social life, no kids or wife, don't think he was dating, ALPA work WAS his hobby, and he lived it 18 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Not many volunteers will be willing to dedicate that same time and energy, nor will they know ALPA policy and procedures inside and out as well, nor will they likely be as effective in dealing with management, all rolled into one person. It'll take at least 3, if not 4 or 5 volunteers stepping into those positions on a part-time basis to do the same work TO was doing by himself.

If enough people with good qualifications step up and volunteer to fill those needs, it'll be OK. If not, a lot of the day-to-day non-SLI union work (still getting management to honor the contract, ongoing grievances, daily issues, message board communications, etc) will start to fall by the way side. Not a good thing when we still have at least 9 months to 2 years left until we start to roll up the carpet as AAI ALPA.

Hopefully BJ will be better in the CEO's chair than BF was in terms of union relations and direct the V.P. Flt Ops to quit violating the contract in the interim between merged operations. That will go a LONG way into lowering the workload that ATN ALPA has.

As far as TO getting the boot for interfering with the SLI... I'm not buying that line yet. Of the reps who have returned my phone call, only one has mentioned that and only by broad innuendo, not by details or specifics. I'm reserving judgment on the way it went down until some specifics are released. The MEC is walking and talking in lock-step, which means they agreed as a committee as to what to say and how to say it which, after only ten years of ALPA experience (and seeing things like this before), has taught me that ALWAYS means there's more to the story.

My personal bet is that this is partially driven by the recent elections of more reps who think like CJ and AC, those new pilot reps not liking TO and his heavy-handedness in MEC meetings, and one, last SLI issue being the straw that broke the camel's back. I also think it's a shot across the bow for LH. He's not irreplaceable, but it would be better not to change MEC Chairs at this point in the process.

In my opinion, our MEC is more cohesive than ever after this move, evidenced by the voting record on the issue, and unified behind our Merger Committee in an even more supportive way than before (if that's even possible), leaving our MC autonomous to negotiate and reach an SLI solution that is fair, equitable, and meets the minimum needs of our pilot group or take it to arbitration if unable to reach a workable deal.

As I've said before, this pilot group isn't going to up and replace the MEC with people who will change that direction. If anything, the new reps that were just elected last month (at least the two in MCO that I know personally and one of the two in MKE) are more "Hard-Liners" in terms of defending the pilot group. That's what the pilot group wanted, so that we could sit back, do our job, and relax, knowing that they are working in our best interests.

Funny how SWAPA pilots elect Steve Chase in the same thought process that we elect 5 new MEC reps. Guess pilots, no matter who they work for, think quite closely alike.

 

[LeeRoyJenkins]

Funny how SWAPA pilots elect Steve Chase in the same thought process that we elect 5 new MEC reps. Guess pilots, no matter who they work for, think quite closely alike.

AAI acquisition or not Steve Chase was going to win the SWAPA Presidential election.

 

[huronip]

Lear,

Can you give some specific examples of how your Flight OP's is violating the CBA? Just curious. Thanks

 

[ivauir]

Funny how SWAPA pilots elect Steve Chase in the same thought process that we elect 5 new MEC reps. Guess pilots, no matter who they work for, think quite closely alike.

Carl was termed out, no drama there.

 

[redflyer65]

It's more than a little interesting that they would run TO out.. maybe a liablity during the upcoming negotiations possibly. The truth will most likely never be known. See Lear's response on how things are lockstep with the remaining members. Not really a good time to change the team, no matter how you spin it.

 

[dicko]

It's more than a little interesting that they would run TO out.. maybe a liablity during the upcoming negotiations possibly. The truth will most likely never be known. See Lear's response on how things are lockstep with the remaining members. Not really a good time to change the team, no matter how you spin it.

I think this was the straw that broke the proverbial camels back.

It's never been a good time to "change the team". We've been told that by "the team" for years. Years of contract negotiations and now the SLI. We'd still be hearing it ten years from now. There is always a crisis.

I understand your point, however the Union is focused and doesn't rely on one man.