About time! AAA Local Council 41 put into trusteeship

[Redmeat]

Prater is the best thing that ever happened to drive pilots away from ALPA

You got that right!!!

 

[Redmeat]

US Airways Local Council 41 Put in Trusteeship
Executive Council votes unanimously to remove officers for failing to provide necessary support to ALPA
March 3, 2008



The Executive Council voted unanimously today to take “emergency corrective action” by placing Local Council 41 (US Airways, Philadelphia) into emergency trusteeship.
The vote terminates the terms of Capt. Eric Rowe, chairman and captain representative; Capt. Dave Ciabattoni, vice chairman and first officer representative; and Capt. Jim Portale, secretary-treasurer. ALPA President Capt. John Prater appointed Capt. Clyde Romero and Capt. Jack Lawrence (both members of Council 41) to serve as trustees of Council 41.

The president instructed the trustees to fully represent the pilots of Council 41 in all matters pertaining to their membership in ALPA. The US Airways MEC will continue to make all decisions concerning the affairs of the US Airways pilots.

Although no hearing is required at the Executive Council level, the Council offered the three former officers the opportunity, which they declined, to make a presentation, either in person or by telephone. A full hearing before the Executive Board will be held within 30 days to formally consider the charges and allow the three former officers to present their views.

The Executive Council found that the three local council officers demonstrated a pattern of support for a rival union in the upcoming NMB representation election, including distributing anti-ALPA communications through ALPA channels and failing to provide necessary support for ALPA in connection with the NMB representation election.

The president asked the three former officers specifically to confirm that they support ALPA in the representation election, that they oppose USAPA in the representation election, and that they will urge the Local Council 41 members to vote for ALPA. None of them would make such statements.

Why now?

Simply put, the Council 41 officers have consistently failed to confirm their support for ALPA in the upcoming election. When asked by Capt. Prater, the three officers failed to say that they stood behind their union and support a pro-ALPA vote.

Last Friday, Capt. Prater sent the three Local Council 41 officers a “Notice of Charges and of Executive Council Meeting to Consider Charges Pursuant to Article XIX, Section 1.D.” The Notice was the basis for emergency corrective action in the form of a trusteeship as provided in Article XIX, Section 1.D of the ALPA Constitution and By-Laws.

Capt. Prater requested the Local Council 41 officers send written statements to Vice-President Administration Capt. Bill Couette making clear their support for ALPA and opposition to USAPA in the NMB representation election, and their commitment to urge Local Council 41 pilots to vote for ALPA. While they did email a response to Capt. Couette, they failed to make the commitment to state their support for ALPA and against USAPA.

“Many of you have urged me to take this action for many months,” Prater wrote the Executive Board on Friday evening. “I had hoped that these three elected officers would stand up for their union. However, with the NMB representation election for US Airways pilots beginning on March 20, the stakes are too high for US Airways pilots—and the actions of these officers far too hurtful to our union—for me to delay further.”

Sounds like a bunch a kids at a college frat hazing. It would be hilarious if it wasn't sad.

 

[Green]

Sure it did, lets have one truthful piece!!

are you serious Fr8mastr? How about the fact that they will not issue a statement supporting Alpa? They are alpa reps! If they want to support USAPA then that is their right but they should first resign their post as an ALPA rep. They should not be trying to recruit the ALPA HIMS chairman for USAPA.

here's your evidence...


In accordance with Article XIX, Section 1.D of the ALPA Constitution and By-Laws, I hereby notify you of the charges set forth below. I also notify you that I have proposed an emergency trusteeship of Local Council 41 to take effect immediately upon approval by the ALPA Executive Council. The ALPA Executive Council will meet to decide whether to approve the proposed emergency corrective action on March 3, 2008, at 1100 Eastern Standard Time. The meeting will be held in the Association’s offices in Washington, D.C.

The charges and the basis for the proposed emergency trusteeship are as follows:

Captains Rowe and Ciabattoni are each officers and status representatives of ALPA Local Council 41, as well as members of the ALPA US Airways MEC and members of the ALPA Board of Directors. Captain Portale is also an officer of ALPA Local Council 41. In those positions, each owes a duty of loyalty to ALPA, including the duty to declare his full support for ALPA in the context of an NMB representation election resulting from an organizing drive by a rival labor organization, and the duty to lend no support to that other organization.

USAPA has challenged the Association’s representation rights at US Airways. The voting period for an NMB representation election begins on March 20. The impending NMB representation election makes it critical that each Local Council 41 officer now declare his support for the continuation of ALPA’s status as pilot bargaining representative, oppose the USAPA effort, provide no support to the USAPA effort, and urge the members of Local Council 41 to vote for ALPA in the NMB representation election.

In addition to the failure of all of the Local Council 41 officers to declare support for ALPA, and their joint communications reflecting a pattern of support for USAPA, on February 27, 2008, Captains Rowe and Ciabattoni each further showed his support for USAPA by attempting to recruit a HIMS liaison for the Association to perform the same services for USAPA. This discussion with the HIMS liaison concerning work for USAPA took place while they were speaking to him in their capacity as LEC officers and ALPA representatives.

Captains Rowe and Ciabattoni have stated that they do not “work for USAPA,” but they have not denied that they are providing support and assistance to USAPA, nor have they repudiated their prior communications reflecting a pattern of support. Likewise, none of the three Local Council 41 officers has declared that he supports ALPA in the representation election and would urge Local Council 41 members to vote for ALPA in the representation election.

It is my determination that, by their actions on behalf of a rival labor organization and their continuing failure to provide necessary support for ALPA in the face of an impending NMB representation election between the Association and the rival organization, the Local Council 41 officers have violated and failed to comply with their obligations to ALPA as representatives, officers, and directors under the Constitution and By-Laws and Association policies, and exposed the Association to detrimental consequences by engaging in a substantial failure to perform significant legal or representational duties of a bargaining representative. In short, they have betrayed their obligations to ALPA and, in doing so, have jeopardized ALPA’s continued existence at US Airways.

Based on these facts and circumstances, I have determined that emergency corrective action is necessary and appropriate in the face of the impending NMB representation election.

 

[Crzipilot]

What's interesting is prater instructed the trustee reps to continue to represent the pilots of phl. Interesting with elections this week, with PHL in trusteeship, those trustee reps can not vote, in essense National has cut out all of the PHL pilots votes towards who gets elected.....interesting to say the least. So the largest base has no representational say as to who is elected to the mec and the committees??? ha

 

[Redmeat]

So the largest base has no representational say as to who is elected to the mec and the committees??? ha

If that is the case the lawsuit is probably being drawn up as we speak.

Shameless ALPA National, they would have more supporters if they would just let the vote go down and live with the results (same with 65).

If this above statement is true they have essentially done the same majority maneuvering that USAPA is accused of.

Ha! What a crock!

 

[FR8mastr]

are you serious Fr8mastr? How about the fact that they will not issue a statement supporting Alpa? They are alpa reps! If they want to support USAPA then that is their right but they should first resign their post as an ALPA rep. They should not be trying to recruit the ALPA HIMS chairman for USAPA.

here's your evidence...

What is it with you guys? Parroting a bunch of crap from ALPA is still Crap from ALPA.

They can not support ALPA on ALPA's current course of action IE they disagree with Prater. That is allowed under the US constitution and the ALPA constitution. That does not mean they are going against ALPA. If you cant see the difference then I guess you should run for office as well.

As far as the HIMS guys, (I was waiting for that) it is a LIE. furthermore this guy will testify to such in the kangaroo court in 30 days. Not only is it a lie he told Prater and others that he would not be part of ALPA's witch hunt for council 41.
I know this all does not fit in with your "ALPA can do no wrong" attitude but there it is. ALPA, Prater, are lying.
It is really eye opening that some of you believe anything you read .

 

[SoCentralRain]

From and outside perspective, the deal sucked for US Airways East guys. Unfortunately, your company went into bankruptcy not only once, but twice. I think most there are lucky to have jobs. Still just a bad situation for you guys.

I just gotta know: What part of "binding arbitration" didn't the East guys understand?

::shrug::

SCR

 

[PCL_128]

They can not support ALPA on ALPA's current course of action IE they disagree with Prater. That is allowed under the US constitution and the ALPA constitution. That does not mean they are going against ALPA. If you cant see the difference then I guess you should run for office as well.

From the oath of office for all ALPA Officers, contained in Article I, Section 7 of the ALPA Constitution & Bylaws: (bold emphasis added)

to comply with and advance the policies of the Association; to bear true allegiance to and uphold the principles of the Air Line Pilots Association and conduct myself and this office in such a manner so as to bring credit to the Association, its members and the airline piloting profession.

 

[Crzipilot]

Why don't you copy the whole section of that bylaw....as it pertains to ALPA officers, and it names such officers it's talking about..

SECTION 7 - OFFICERS AND OATH OF OFFICE
A. The officers of the Association shall be the President of the Association, the First Vice
President, the Vice President-Administration/Secretary, and the Vice President-Finance/Treasurer.
B. After the election of any of the officers of the Association the following oath of office shall be
administered by the President of the Association or his designee:
I hereby pledge on my honor to accept the responsibilities of this office and perform the
attendant duties to the best of my ability; to uphold faithfully the Constitution and By-Laws of
the Air Line Pilots Association; to comply with and advance the policies of the Association; to
bear true allegiance to and uphold the principles of the Air Line Pilots Association and conduct
myself and this office in such a manner so as to bring credit to the Association, its members​

and the airline piloting profession.

I dont see any mention of LEC reps or MEC reps mentioned in having to take any oath????

 

[TWA Dude]

If that is the case the lawsuit is probably being drawn up as we speak.

Another frivolous suit, if it's actually filed. The EC voted unanimously. The evidence is clear.

 

[Turtle21]

The evidence presented to the EC proved otherwise.

Evidence in secret is no proof. The EC isn't even going to have a hearing for 30 days.

What is in public view is that the pilots have voted in new representation into the BOS positions and the power had returned to the pilots instead of the Pratophiles. Based on trumping charges on secret evidence the Pratophiles have manipulated the vote and once again proved ALPA is not about free democracy.

Your obssesive affinity calls into question how much FPL you collect.

 

[Turtle21]

are you serious Fr8mastr? How about the fact that they will not issue a statement supporting Alpa?

Just what is ALPA? Is ALPA known by the rants of a lunatic president? How about the rants of a senile president? If the president becomes a lunatic then who is left to define ALPA? The CB&L. And it was the CB&L that always defines ALPA.

No. ALPA is not known by the transient whims of a president or any other spokesman trying to trump up a personal witch hunt. ALPA is merely what is agreed to in the CB&L.

There has been no evidence that council 41 has breached any part of the CB&L, nor will there be.

 

[Mamma]

To my fellow US Airways pilots,
I have been an ALPA member in good standing for over twenty nine years and currently hold seniority number XX on the system seniority list. I’ve had other pilots tell me that since I have been unaffected by the recent arbitration award that I really don’t have a dog in this fight. Nothing could be farther from the truth. While the current catalyst for change is the unfair arbitration award, the reasons for breaking our long standing affiliation with ALPA run far deeper than just that one issue. ALPA’s basic structure is flawed. Our union is made up of many separate pilot groups that have conflicting financial and career goals. We are competing with each other for the same piece of the airline pie. Please remember that both the United and Delta pilots engaged in a letter writing campaign that was directed at putting US Airways out of business. If that is the face of a national union then I want nothing to do with it. Also keep in mind that we have a bloated top heavy national leadership that is EARNING obscene salaries at your expense while doing absolutely nothing for the US Airways pilots.
I say that it is long past time to replace ALPA with an in house union whose sole responsibility is to the US Airways pilots. In the late 80’s I supported the formation of an in house union and regrettably not enough of you supported that effort. I believe that had we succeeded then, that we would never have lost our pension. While it’s too late to change that now, looking forward we can prevent more travesties like that from occurring in the future. We, with ALPA representation, have lost our pensions, vacation time, duty rigs, pay and respect. And now many of you face the loss of seniority as well. I say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
As I said earlier, the decision to leave ALPA should not be decided on one issue alone. However, having said that, the current seniority crisis is certainly one of the biggest problems that this pilot group has ever faced. Unlike the loss of our pension, it is not too late to fix this problem. Do not look to ALPA to fix it for you.
ALPA may not be able to fix this problem even if they wanted to and their indecisive response indicates to me that they do not have the will or courage to stand up and do what is right. I believe that replacing ALPA is the only possible way to rectify this injustice. Right now there are a very dedicated, hard working group of pilots taking steps to replace ALPA with an in house union. They can not, nor should they have to do it alone. This is a fight that all of us share. Don’t sit on the sidelines and hope someone else will preserve your seniority for you.
Get involved and help both with your time and money. This process will not be cheap although I believe it will be much less than you are spending in ALPA dues. The return on your investment could be huge. I and others have already contributed a substantial amount of money to this effort.
Fraternally,
Captain Ed


Preface: I feel it important to inform the USAir pilots that I resigned from ALPA nearly two years ago after years of disappointment and disgust concerning ALPA's leadership failures.

This is a follow up to my note of several days ago. I think the USAir pilots might benefit from learning about the FedEx MEC chairman's appearance before the America West Pilots on April 21, 2004, and how ALPA's short-term decisions affect its long term credibility and strength.

During the early part of 2004, the AWA pilots had been considering decertifying ALPA and replacing it with an in-house union. The situation became serious enough that then-ALPA president, Duane Woerth, asked FedEx MEC chairman, Dave Webb, and CAL MEC chairman, Jay Panarello, to address the AWA pilots on the disadvantages of an in-house union. What the pilots were not told was that Jay Panarello was one of the worst strikebreakers that we had at Continental. Not only did he cross the picket line early on, he proactively attempted to get other employees fired. This is a note that I received from one of our former CAL pilots who was married to a CAL flight attendant:

Bob: If I ever see Panarello I will personally embarrass him in front of as many real pilots as possible...He did his level best to have my wife fired at Continental and made her life hell as she was under close observation for many months...He is the ONLY CAL PILOT that I know of that attacked another pilot's family member during a strike.

Readers might ask, "How did a strikebreaker like Jay Panarello get back into the union, much less get elected chairman of the Master Executive Council?" The answer is this: Some time before his election, ALPA national, in its desire to increase dues income, decided to permit all Continental strikebreakers to join the Association as members in good standing. This was done with no requirement for any act of penance, no period of probation, and no requirement to pay back-dues. It was, by all standards, a free pass for crossing the picket line.

My viewpoint is that of one who spent two years on strike at CAL, started over several times before landing at FedEx, and gave up about one million dollars in compensation because of people like Jay Panarello. To me, it was inconceivable that Duane Woerth would send a strikebreaker to act as a spokesman for ALPA in any venue (can you imagine any true union doing this?), and that my current MEC chairman, Dave Webb, would share the stage and microphone with such an individual. After all, the strike against Continental was probably the most righteous strike ever in the airline industry. It was called against a management team that was both corrupt and incompetent. Stories of Frank Lorenzo's corrupt behavior even during his college days were well-know and public knowledge. Anyone who wanted to know, could and should have known, including Jay Panarello.

But, to me, there is something more important and disturbing about this whole matter: It is the idea that an organization calling itself a "union" could unconditionally welcome into its fold the confirmed enemies of working men and women in this country with, apparently, no comprehension, whatsoever, of the downstream strategic effects of such a move. Not only does the embracing of known strikebreakers physically dilute the strength of an, otherwise, potentially solid membership, but it substantially demoralizes those who have fought, or might ever be willing to fight, the war against corruption. How in the world do you successfully mix together the valiant individuals who were robbed of their jobs, with those who stole them? And, if such tolerance is the end result, how could you possibly expect anyone to ever again take a picket line seriously? It is unfathomable. To some extent, this is why ALPA has been unable to protect pensions, incomes, and working conditions. It has so diluted its strength by catering to the weakest of its membership that it no longer has any credibility or leverage.

If any USAir pilots are under the illusion that ALPA's incompetence and corrupt behavior started with them, they need to think again. This has been going on for decades. In my opinion, ALPA's inability to defend its members against pension loss, pay reductions, executive manipulation, the courts, or internal fragmentation is the direct result of a legacy of leadership incompetence that has left it impotent. ALPA's principle-free policies, employed for short-term gain, have resulted in a membership that so lacks trust in both the organization and in each other that there is, in my opinion, little possibility of ALPA ever again throwing up a meaningful picket line or doing much of anything else to defend its members. Where there is no accountability for crossing a picket line, there is no good reason to not cross a picket line.

And, that is why we are where we are as a profession today: Dog-eat-dog, every-pilot-for-him or herself. Oddly enough, it is not the mighty FedEx pilots who have the incentive to change our world---they are still mind-numbingly apathetic and, essentially, leaderless. Nor is it ALPA national---all it appears to care about is its dues money. For the moment, it is the pilots at USAir who are in the driver's seat.

Sincerely,

Bob

 

[PCL_128]

"Ed" and "Bob" need to do some research. There's so many factual inaccuracies in their letters that I wouldn't even know where to begin.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

We are competing with each other for the same piece of the airline pie.


Bob

Gee "Bob".....

its called free market capitalism... something we adore in this country...

I bet you, most of the USAIRways, USAPA saps and ALPA pilots will vote this Nov., for a president that supports 'pilots competing with each other for the same piece of the airline pie'

How does one rationalize with someone who is willing to crap where they eat.....??

I know, I know, soical issues like abortions, guns, gays, etc.. is more important that your retirement, seniority intergration, etc....


Air Line Pilots are like chickens voting for Frank Purdue....