AirTran management pilots

[Hose A. Jiminez]

Isn't the MEC an elected position?

If he is out of touch and a "non" pilot how the heck did he come to represent you guys?

Gup

Our Chicago guys elected a rep who was banging a pilots wife... just sayin'.

 

[Lear70]

What about "Coach?"

Mostly harmless, the real issues are further up the food chain.

 

[Lear70]

They're ALPA until complete operational merger, or until the NMB decides that we are to be to the sole administer of their contract. There are a few different instances where this could happen. If (when?) it does, SWAPA will be required to manage their contract. Separate, temporary by-laws.

At some point, if SWAPA doesn't file for representational responsibility for the AirTran pilots, AirTran ALPA (or ALPA National) can file to turn over representation to SWAPA as pilots start transferring. This opens up a can of worms on both sides, so it's not something you just want to "jump" into.

For instance, if we're no longer ALPA, but still have pilots on the AirTran partition, who manages our contract? Why SWAPA does, but they, for the most part, don't know the history behind our contract and the daily way it functions, so you'd have to elect reps from AirTran to run it in some kind of sub- organization of SWAPA.

The how do you allow 6,000 pilots (OSWA) to vote on a contract (AirTran's) if there's an issue that comes up requiring member ratification (which needs to stay with our organization in its current form just like TO wrote), which doesn't concern those pilots for the most part. How do you limit it to just the affected contracts' pilots voting?

And if we don't, is there a DFR issue if you don't represent a fleet type you're negotiating for in Sec 6 next year before the first ones come over? If so, it might behoove ALPA to file for it sooner rather than later.

It's complicated.

 

[DonVerita]

Isn't the MEC an elected position?

If he is out of touch and a "non" pilot how the heck did he come to represent you guys?

Gup

Gup,

Not non-pilot, but rather non-flying pilot. Why? Because he has sat at his desk for so long without flying a single trip that he went non-current. That is easily remedied with a few visits to the school house, but he kept delaying it over and over again.

He was never elected by the rank & file.

For those who don't know, the way ALPA works is like this: The rank & file elect the LEC reps (Local Executive Council). The LEC reps come from each domicile (ATL, MKE, MCO), 1 CA rep, 1 F/O rep. ATL due to its massive size, gets 2 CA reps, 2 F/O reps. So add it all up and you've got 8 LEC reps total representing their respective three domiciles. It is these 8 that vote amongst themselves for the election (or removal) of the MEC (Master Executive Council) officers - MEC Chairman, MEC Vice Chairman, MEC Secretary/Treasurer.

The LEC reps (collectively called, "The MEC") should have removed the MEC Chairman a long time ago for poor job performance to put it mildly. Why haven't they done that? Because it takes a majority and there are a few on there that refuse to rock the political boat; despite overwhelming sentiment on the line that the rank & file wants him removed. It's time for the LEC reps to listen to their constituents on this matter.

 

[carl p]

SWAPA needs to get ahead of this....IMO, long term it could impact the culture if left unchecked.

 

[SWA Bubba]

SWAPA needs to get ahead of this....IMO, long term it could impact the culture if left unchecked.

Hey Carl,

I like your new avatar. I guess we now know your transistion bid..... Where did you find that, anyway?

Bubba

 

[Uppercrust]

What about "Coach?"

Does he still put out?

 

[dicko]

Does he still put out?

Sure. But he's 'juicing'.

 

[Uppercrust]

Sure. But he's 'juicing'.

Thought he was a bottom guy? Oh well.

 

[717capt]

It might be a good idea for you SWAPA guys to get in front of this train now while there is still time.

Suggestion: Quietly arrange an unofficial dinner meeting with our MEC Vice Chairman and Secretary/Treasurer in either of their home cities (one will fly to the other). They are both straight shooters and will tell you exactly how it is. They don't play politics.

Don't bother wasting your breath or time with the MEC Chairman. He is a non-line-flying politician who is about as out of touch as one can get and is only interested in feathering his own nest. You will never get a straight answer out of him.

Our union officials have a duty to represent all of our pilots, check airman included. Not whom they like or dislike. Yeah I know that our management pilots are not part of alpa, but most of our check airman are. Even the tools. To suggest some sort of covert sit down with swapa and "talk badly" about one pilot or another whom they represent is not only morally wrong, it's against the law and a dfr waiting to happen. If this is really a sticking point, then I would suggest to ask the opinion of any airtran line pilot.
In my view however if that person does provide any information about another fellow pilot, then they need to look at themselves really really hard. YMMV.

 

[717capt]

I guess I had a different take on their SWA/737/FO bids. I thought that many of those guys wouldn't see the line until 2015,and therefore had the decency to NOT take a CA slot away from somebody else, only so that slot would go unused.

I agree with you. That was my thought on it as well.

 

[carl p]

Hey Carl,

I like your new avatar. I guess we now know your transistion bid..... Where did you find that, anyway?

Bubba

Bubba,

Thanks, I got the pic after the announcement was made last year. I was hoping to get the 737 and bid west coast but I missed it by about 90-100 numbers. Can't wait for 2015 so I can stop commuting LAX-ATL.

 

[PCL_128]

Our union officials have a duty to represent all of our pilots, check airman included. Not whom they like or dislike. Yeah I know that our management pilots are not part of alpa, but most of our check airman are. Even the tools. To suggest some sort of covert sit down with swapa and "talk badly" about one pilot or another whom they represent is not only morally wrong, it's against the law and a dfr waiting to happen. If this is really a sticking point, then I would suggest to ask the opinion of any airtran line pilot.
In my view however if that person does provide any information about another fellow pilot, then they need to look at themselves really really hard. YMMV.

I don't think anyone was talking about the checkairmen. They are part of the bargaining unit, and almost all of them are members in good standing. Everyone here was talking about management pilots, and their management jobs aren't in our craft or class.

 

[SWA Bubba]

Bubba,

Thanks, I got the pic after the announcement was made last year. I was hoping to get the 737 and bid west coast but I missed it by about 90-100 numbers. Can't wait for 2015 so I can stop commuting LAX-ATL.

Well, you shouldn't have any problem in 2015. OAK is traditionally the most junior base for everyone: F/As, CAs, and FOs. I was flew there for a few months a few years ago, and flew with a guy who lived in ORF, and commuted to OAK. I think it took him a minimum of two legs, and sometimes three, to get to and from work. Basically, all friggin day in each direction. He said he could hold BWI, but only on reserve, and that he could get a line in OAK. That was his rationale, anyway. Well, then he forgot to bid, and got weekend reserve in OAK anyway. I'm sure there's a lesson there somewhere.

Merry Christmas,
Bubba

 

[GuppyWN]

There is. Put in a standing bid!

 

[carl p]

Well, you shouldn't have any problem in 2015. OAK is traditionally the most junior base for everyone: F/As, CAs, and FOs. I was flew there for a few months a few years ago, and flew with a guy who lived in ORF, and commuted to OAK. I think it took him a minimum of two legs, and sometimes three, to get to and from work. Basically, all friggin day in each direction. He said he could hold BWI, but only on reserve, and that he could get a line in OAK. That was his rationale, anyway. Well, then he forgot to bid, and got weekend reserve in OAK anyway. I'm sure there's a lesson there somewhere.

Merry Christmas,
Bubba

Lol, yep that would suck. Eventually I'll get back out west, and all will be good!

Merry Christmas & Happy Festivus!
Carl

 

[chris69]

Still hearing DEN then LAX on internal forums. Didn't SWAPA discuss "what if's" at the Dec BOD meeting wrt representing all AT pilots before 2015? Something like a side SWAPA? Have a close bud on the BOD who mentioned this and but haven't heard anything since. May be too complicated or something tabled until after SOC.

 

[Lear70]

The ATN NC and MC and MEC officers are headed to DAL to discuss representation issues in late January.

That said, you're likely correct, as I'm sure nothing will be done regarding representation issues until after SOC.

 

[Britpilot]

Can't come soon enough.
Time to get rid of the self serving, worthless wannabe politicians.

 

[carl p]

True dat