A Dear Jack Letter.....

[cactusboy53]

PRESIDENT'S DEPARTMENT
AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION, INTERNATIONAL

October 1, 2007

Captain Jack Stephan, Chairman US Airway MEC
Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l
One Thom Run Center, Suite 400
1187 Thorn Run Road
Coraopolis, PA. 15108

Dear Jack:
Since the day the seniority award was announced, the Executive Council, other national officers, and I have worked tirelessly with you, your MEC, and line pilots to try to find positive solutions that would provide career protection, economic gains, and quality-of-life improvements for all US Airways pilots. I hope you would be the first to say that we have never given up on the US Airways pilots and have provided every possible avenue for you and your MEC to be heard.

The numerous individual and joint MEC meetings, crew room visits, domicile meetings, as well as meetings of the Joint Negotiating Committee, the Rice Committee, and, ultimately, the Executive Council, led to. the Executive Council resolutions affirming ALPA's positions regarding this situation, which we all must now abide by. This is why I am very concerned with the outcome of recent meetings of your MEC and am writing to request that you immediately call a special MEC meeting, to be held no later than October 8, to deal with these critical matters.

Let me be clear: Prompt corrective action by the MEC is necessary for compliance with fundamental obligations under our Constitution and By-Laws and policies with respect to the AAA-AWA merger. This is also required to overcome the MEC's failure to respond to and defend against efforts by an independent organization (USAPA) to displace the Association as bargaining representative.

I have attempted to work out these matters and would have much preferred that the MEC act on its own initiative, without my request. But at this point the combination of action and inaction on the part of the MEC exposes the Association to truly detrimental consequences.

With respect to the AAA-AWA merger, it is time for the MEC to comply with its representational and legal obligations under the Constitution & By-Laws, ALPA Merger Policy, the Transition Agreement, and implementing resolutions of the Executive Council. The MEC; at this meeting, should adopt a resolution (or resolutions) reversing all prior efforts to bar or precondition the continuation of joint negotiations. The MEC should also direct the US Airways members of the Joint Negotiating Committee to resume their full participation in the negotiation of a single agreement covering the merged operation of US Airways and America West, including both parity and parity plus as provided in the Executive Council resolution of September 20, 2007.

Since the Executive Council has determined that there is no ground under ALPA Merger Policy to set aside the seniority award, the MEC should also adopt a resolution recognizing that the award is to be included in the single agreement to be negotiated under the Transition Agreement and Merger Policy, provided only that the Association and all MECs will comply with valid court orders, if any, affecting the terms of the award.

The Rice Committee will continue to work with the MECs and Joint Negotiating Committee to implement this process. You may also wish to contact Captain Mcllvenna to invite the AWA MEC to meet with the AAA MEC to discuss tern's for implementation either before or after the AAA MEC meeting.

It is also time for the US Airways MEC to assume its basic responsibility for defending against the USAPA raid. MEC members are not only status representatives-they are also members of the ALPA Board of Directors-with the clear obligation to preserve ALFA representation for the US Airways pilots.

As of today, the MEC has failed to adopt a single resolution or send a single communication speaking out against this raid. Indeed, to the contrary, some MEC members appear to be at least refusing to support the Association and even expressing support for the USAPA effort. I request that the MEC adopt a resolution expressing full and unreserved support for the continuation of ALFA representation along with continued efforts to resolve all collective bargaining and seniority issues within the Association.

I am ready to have the Association staff assist with making any logistical, travel, hotel, and meeting room arrangements for this special MEC meeting. You are, of course, welcome to hold the meeting at our Washington, D.C., or Herndon offices, and I look forward to having the opportunity to discuss with the MEC any questions concerning the actions set forth in this letter.

I look forward to your positive response and to the outcome of the special MEC meeting so that we can turn our attention to the important work of completing this merger and negotiating a single agreement that will provide very significant improvements in pay, benefits, and career protection to all US Airways pilots. These goals can be achieved only if we work together to preserve Association representation for the entire US Airways pilot group.


In Unity,
Captain John Prater President
cc: • Executive Council

 

[bigtexpilot]

About F_ _ _ _ _ g time!

 

[eaglefly]

It looks as though the crybaby tantrum throwers at the U MEC have gone bonkers.

They've become renegade, rogue infants determined to tip over any crib they find and in the process their own.

Hopefully, should financial harm come to the other ALPA members as a result of their infantile and illegal behavior, grounds for suit against any and all the U MEC members will materialize. I think strong consideration to freezing their individual assets and putting leins on all their homes to insure that they are not sheltered should litigants seek their siezure in the future be undertaken.

This behavior has to be strongly nipped in the bud.

 

[ironspud]

Got to be a bogus letter, unless it was for some unknown reason, intended to twice refer to ALPA as ALFA.

 

[ironspud]

PRESIDENT'S DEPARTMENT
AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION, INTERNATIONAL

October 1, 2007

Captain Jack Stephan, Chairman US Airway MEC
Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l
One Thom Run Center, Suite 400
1187 Thorn Run Road
Coraopolis, PA. 15108

Dear Jack:
Since the day the seniority award was announced, the Executive Council, other national officers, and I have worked tirelessly with you, your MEC, and line pilots to try to find positive solutions that would provide career protection, economic gains, and quality-of-life improvements for all US Airways pilots. I hope you would be the first to say that we have never given up on the US Airways pilots and have provided every possible avenue for you and your MEC to be heard.

The numerous individual and joint MEC meetings, crew room visits, domicile meetings, as well as meetings of the Joint Negotiating Committee, the Rice Committee, and, ultimately, the Executive Council, led to. the Executive Council resolutions affirming ALPA's positions regarding this situation, which we all must now abide by. This is why I am very concerned with the outcome of recent meetings of your MEC and am writing to request that you immediately call a special MEC meeting, to be held no later than October 8, to deal with these critical matters.

Let me be clear: Prompt corrective action by the MEC is necessary for compliance with fundamental obligations under our Constitution and By-Laws and policies with respect to the AAA-AWA merger. This is also required to overcome the MEC's failure to respond to and defend against efforts by an independent organization (USAPA) to displace the Association as bargaining representative.

I have attempted to work out these matters and would have much preferred that the MEC act on its own initiative, without my request. But at this point the combination of action and inaction on the part of the MEC exposes the Association to truly detrimental consequences.

With respect to the AAA-AWA merger, it is time for the MEC to comply with its representational and legal obligations under the Constitution & By-Laws, ALPA Merger Policy, the Transition Agreement, and implementing resolutions of the Executive Council. The MEC; at this meeting, should adopt a resolution (or resolutions) reversing all prior efforts to bar or precondition the continuation of joint negotiations. The MEC should also direct the US Airways members of the Joint Negotiating Committee to resume their full participation in the negotiation of a single agreement covering the merged operation of US Airways and America West, including both parity and parity plus as provided in the Executive Council resolution of September 20, 2007.

Since the Executive Council has determined that there is no ground under ALPA Merger Policy to set aside the seniority award, the MEC should also adopt a resolution recognizing that the award is to be included in the single agreement to be negotiated under the Transition Agreement and Merger Policy, provided only that the Association and all MECs will comply with valid court orders, if any, affecting the terms of the award.

The Rice Committee will continue to work with the MECs and Joint Negotiating Committee to implement this process. You may also wish to contact Captain Mcllvenna to invite the AWA MEC to meet with the AAA MEC to discuss tern's for implementation either before or after the AAA MEC meeting.

It is also time for the US Airways MEC to assume its basic responsibility for defending against the USAPA raid. MEC members are not only status representatives-they are also members of the ALPA Board of Directors-with the clear obligation to preserve ALFA representation for the US Airways pilots.

As of today, the MEC has failed to adopt a single resolution or send a single communication speaking out against this raid. Indeed, to the contrary, some MEC members appear to be at least refusing to support the Association and even expressing support for the USAPA effort. I request that the MEC adopt a resolution expressing full and unreserved support for the continuation of ALFA representation along with continued efforts to resolve all collective bargaining and seniority issues within the Association.

I am ready to have the Association staff assist with making any logistical, travel, hotel, and meeting room arrangements for this special MEC meeting. You are, of course, welcome to hold the meeting at our Washington, D.C., or Herndon offices, and I look forward to having the opportunity to discuss with the MEC any questions concerning the actions set forth in this letter.

I look forward to your positive response and to the outcome of the special MEC meeting so that we can turn our attention to the important work of completing this merger and negotiating a single agreement that will provide very significant improvements in pay, benefits, and career protection to all US Airways pilots. These goals can be achieved only if we work together to preserve Association representation for the entire US Airways pilot group.


In Unity,
Captain John Prater President
cc: • Executive Council

Who is "ALFA"?

 

[BigMeat]

Didnt they agree to with the mediator at first?

 

[jke406]

Got to be a bogus letter, unless it was for some unknown reason, intended to twice refer to ALPA as ALFA.

possibly, the letter was scanned from a hard copy, with the inherent "errors in translation."

 

[grog_sit_reserv]

I wonder if it was retyped and not attached. That could account for the errors.

If it's real, looks like the war just started. I wonder what AAA's response will be.

 

[grog_sit_reserv]

sorry, Jke must've been typing while I was. I stand by my comments though.

 

[grog_sit_reserv]

Special MEC Update - October 2, 2007

Late yesterday, the attached letter was sent from ALPA President Captain John Prater to AAA MEC Chairman Captain Jack Stephan. The AWA MEC will meet via conference call tomorrow to discuss the ramifications of this letter.

In the meantime, we have activated the AWA MEC Family Awareness Committee to get all block leaders and regional directors up to speed given the likelihood of a representational election.

Please continue to fly safe and secure, and also continue to treat your fellow east and west crew members with respect and courtesy.

Fraternally yours,

Captain John McIlvenna
America West MEC Chairman

Looks like its real....

 

[CFI2766]

Is there a short version of what's going on here? I know there's a disagreement between the East and the West guys on how the two should be merged, but why is this happening? It seems as though it is the East that isn't fucntioning properly...

 

[NuGuy]

Heyas guys,

If the AAA guys are not bluffing, and assuming that the ALPA national isn't either, there are a couple of scenarios:

1. The AAA guys capitulate and acceed to the demands from Prater.

2. All the parties come together and work out some kind of deal, which I don't think is very likely.

3. The AAA guys go forward with the USAPA election. If that's the case, it is VERY likely that Prater will bring charges (section 8, I think, of the ALPA bylaws) up against the AAA MEC, with the ultimate goal of having them removed. At that point, he will appoint a "trustee" council in their place. After that point, it's anyone's guess, but the results will be unpleasant, I'm sure.

This is basically the AMR/APA deal redeux.

Nu

 

[Occam's Razor]

There will be a Special meeting...since the President has the right to covene one. All status reps must attend or send valid proxies. They don't have a choice.

If the AAA MEC squirrels, Prater will put them into the ALPA version of receivership. He'll appoint a Trustee, and the Hearing Board will determine what's to happen to any AAA MEC rep or officer who doesn't comply with their obligations under the Constitution & ByLaws.

 

[Crzipilot]

I'd say it's close to the script that's been written to take care of a "rogue" ALPA MEC. Don't think all the steps ALPA national has taken isn't with some forsight on their end. They have taken all the meetings and rice committee, (with the shadow of USAPA in the background) as steps to take the place into recievorship. Remember too, the US contract is probably critical in Praters "Take it back" compaign. He NEEDS a vastly improved contract here, for the typical ALPA leap frogging of contracts. If the contract stumbles here, there won't be as big increases at the other carriers. I would predict AAA MEC is put into recievorship, the trustee negotiates and new contract, and such is voted in by the trustee. The unknown is, if there will be a representation run off with USAPA.....

 

[eaglefly]

There will be a Special meeting...since the President has the right to covene one. All status reps must attend or send valid proxies. They don't have a choice.

If the AAA MEC squirrels, Prater will put them into the ALPA version of receivership. He'll appoint a Trustee, and the Hearing Board will determine what's to happen to any AAA MEC rep or officer who doesn't comply with their obligations under the Constitution & ByLaws.

Like I said, psychotic renegades...............

 

[Prog 2/2]

This is basically the AMR/APA deal redeux.

Nu

I agree with you right up until the last point.

This is nothing like what happened at TWA.

The USAir guys were afforded months to negotiate an integrated list, they never moved off DOH.

They took part in three days of mediation, and never moved off DOH.

They then were afforded the opportunity to present their case before 2 pilot neutrals and an arbiter that they helped pick. Despite repeated direction from the panel that their position was untenable, they stuck to DOH.

They reached for the stars, shot for the moon; and landed on the roof.

Now they either want a "do-over", or to ignore the decision that they agreed would be binding on both parties because it didn't turn out the way they wanted.

None of the 2600 TWA pilots were afforded the opportunity to plead their case before any neutral party. It was decided for us by AMR and the APA.

Big difference with what happened here.

 

[grog_sit_reserv]

Exactly.

 

[NuGuy]

I agree with you right up until the last point.

This is nothing like what happened at TWA.

Heyas,

I wasn't talking about TWA. I was talking about the AMR split from ALPA in the 60's.

ALPA national layed out some policy, and the AMR leadership maneuvered the situation to the point where they had the votes to pull off an ALPA de-cert.

At the last minute, ALPA national came in and put the AMR councils under a "trusteeship". This had the effect of looking VERY heavy handed, and torqued the pilot group off, which was capitalized on by the then MEC leadership. In the end, the AMR membership told ALPA to get bent, and promptly de-certified the union.

Prater can't afford to look weak in this situation. OTOH, it sounds like AAA membership is pretty fired up, and the cards are ready to roll.

I'm popping the popcorn for this one.

Nu

 

[PositiveRate]

That letter is real and it is also at least 3 months late. Either way, the BS tolerence of the East's antics are coming to an end.

 

[1Speedbird]

That letter probably just served to ensure enough votes to get ALPA off the property!!!

 

[eaglefly]

This is going to impact the corporation.

U management should begin the transfer of East narrowbodies and start agressive hiring. Those Easties that would willing to transfer under the ruling and would agree to keep their pieholes shut could do so.

Transfer the aircraft, boot the MEC infants and get back to running a business.

 

[El Pobre]

Let me sum up the letter:

Dear Jack,

"We don't want your pilot group to leave the union because we need your pilots $$$. We know that we give you crappy representation but we still need your $$$."

The bottom line is this. If the USAIR(E) pilots feel so disenfranchised with ALPA and ALPA national, then they have a right to vote and change how they are represented as a pilot group. There are plenty of pilots out there who feel well represented by their own unions that truly work on their behalf, not on ALPA nationals.

 

[Prog 2/2]

Heyas,

I wasn't talking about TWA. I was talking about the AMR split from ALPA in the 60's.


Nu

My mistake.

I kinda lost sight of the forest because of all these trees, and missed the deeper story in your post.

 

[Green]

Remember too, the US contract is probably critical in Praters "Take it back" compaign. He NEEDS a vastly improved contract here, for the typical ALPA leap frogging of contracts. If the contract stumbles here, there won't be as big increases at the other carriers.quote]

Unfortunately the contract will NOT be impressive. We lack any meaningful leverage as we do not have the right to strike since the contract is being negotiated voluntarily by the company. The east contract has not expired. The only leverage we do have would be if the two pilot groups worked together on putting pressure on management which is highly unlikely considering the resentment and bitterness coming from the east. Our opener puts top narrowbody captains at 165/hr which is essentially equal to current DAL and AMR pay. So don't expect anything close to Industry Leading, it will be more like post 9/11 Industry Standard.

The west reps are facing possible recall due to dissatisfied West pilots who feel we should be asking for more. A recall probably won't do anything to help the outcome and just delay achieving industry standard. Our best hope is to negotiate a VERY short contract with some kind of clause that forces substantial payraises once the contract expires thus forcing management to negotiate in good faith immediately upon expiration. My hope is a 2 year contract tops! Tough situation for all involved but hopefully it resolves itself.

 

[Green]

Remember too, the US contract is probably critical in Praters "Take it back" compaign. He NEEDS a vastly improved contract here, for the typical ALPA leap frogging of contracts. If the contract stumbles here, there won't be as big increases at the other carriers.quote]

Unfortunately the contract will NOT be impressive. We lack any meaningful leverage as we do not have the right to strike since the contract is being negotiated voluntarily by the company. The east contract has not expired. The only leverage we do have would be if the two pilot groups worked together on putting pressure on management which is highly unlikely considering the resentment and bitterness coming from the east. Our opener puts top narrowbody captains at 165/hr which is essentially equal to current DAL and AMR pay. So don't expect anything close to Industry Leading, it will be more like post 9/11 Industry Standard.

The west reps are facing possible recall due to dissatisfied West pilots who feel we should be asking for more. A recall probably won't do anything to help the outcome and just delay achieving industry standard. Our best hope is to negotiate a VERY short contract with some kind of clause that forces substantial payraises once the contract expires thus forcing management to negotiate in good faith immediately upon expiration. My hope is a 2 year contract tops! Tough situation for all involved but hopefully it resolves itself.

 

[A350]

All:

IMO, this will be the end of ALPA on the USAirways certificate.

Whatever your take on the situation, ALPA cannot win a war with a group of pilots who have lost everything and will never recoup it no matter what kind of contract they negotiate.

If they didn't have the number of cards before, I will bet a few more get mailed after the group reads this.

Prater can act tough, but when they say goodbye to ALPA, it will start a chain reaction that could break the union.

A350

 

[TurboAWD]

That would be a very bad thing.

For ALL of us.

Turbo

 

[PCL_128]

I agree with Occam on this one. This is a precursor to putting the AAA MEC in receivership if they don't get their act together real quick. Time to start acting like adults.

I'm still not sure that the fallout from this will give the USAPA clowns enough votes to decertify the Association. They still need to get a majority of the votes from the combined group including the AWA pilots. Any AWA pilot that votes for this would be insane, no matter what his feelings about ALPA. Between 90+ percent of the AWA pilots voting NO on a decert, and a small number of AAA pilots voting NO, the decert will still probably fail.

 

[TWA Dude]

The west reps are facing possible recall due to dissatisfied West pilots who feel we should be asking for more.

Not being a cheerleader; just stating a fact: if this recall resolution makes it to a vote our reps aren't in any danger. Unlike the numerous previous recalls this one seeks to recall every rep. This is the most stable MEC/LEC group I've seen in my short 3-1/2 years here.

break

I have zero expecation that the AAA MEC will accede to the demands of Prater and the EC. They've already decided to throw in their lot with a magical panacea that will solve everything: a shiny new union. I fully expect there to be a representative election, however, I don't believe USAPA is by any means a shoe-in. There are moderate, pragmatic voices in the East who we don't hear from on the message boards.
ALPA will survive the loss of USAirways, if it comes to that, but I'm not so sure USAirways will survive the loss of ALPA.

 

[MK82Man]

We are on a road to nowhere thanks to the AAA MEC Leadership. I really feel like the East is sending the entire ship into the Abyss. Kind of like the Vikings setting out except you know this ends in disaster.

The rank and file US Airways East pilots are so disgruntled that nobody is willing to step forward to try to right the sinking ship. It’s like all the volunteer spirit is tapped out and their energy is just sapped. We’ve not seen any attempt at a Recall of their Leadership or any mass organized attempt to “correct the AAA MEC.” Of course, the AAA MEC doesn’t tell the members everything that is happening (unlike the AWA MEC). And USAPA continues to gather steam in Philly. Sooooo, my guess is that the AAA Leadership will do nothing, or dance around with some weak half-hearted resolutions in an attempt to placate Prater. If they are smart they will do the same dance “working towards creative solutions” that Prater and National has done since the Award was announced in May. I figure the AAA Council ought to get six months, since it took Prater six months to send ‘em the “gun to your head” letter.

ALPA will take control of the MEC and it will further alienate the AAA rank and file. They are too far gone. The Moderates over there just don’t care enough to be involved, honestly, who could blame ‘em. They will wait to watch the renegades implode themselves. USAPA will try to organize in the place of ALPA but by then enough East Pilots (moderates who want to hold onto their job) will vote USAPA down. 99% of the West would never vote for USAPA (we’ll have a Looney 1% or so that think ALPA is the root of all evil). We may enter a quagmire where an ALPA re-certification try also fails. At any end, there is one winner. Management. What the East guys can’t see is that Management wins. All Airline Management. Delayed contracts, delayed increased compensation, delayed better work rules. Management wins. If the East guys drag it out long enough, the next recession will hit and then it is too late. We’d like to pay you more but no can’t afford it. Management bonuses (already paid). Parker will make a business decision: either let the situation roll, cheaper to fly 2/3 of the company on crappy East contract, or if costs over there go up, move aircraft West, hire on the West, and blame illegal union action out East (to be settled in court 10 years from now).

We are into the abyss Gentlemen. Be sure to bring a floatation device.