AirTran Recall Results

[PCL_128]

Time for new leadership. Here's the results from the recall ballot:

2007 Ballot for the Proposed Recall of NPA President and Vice-President

The ballots cast were as follows:

Please select Yes or No to recall the President of the NPA
Total %of Total Votes

Yes, I vote for the recall of NPA President, Captain Allen Philpot. 755 66.70
No, I vote against the recall of NPA President, Captain Allen Philpot. 377 33.30


Please select Yes of No to recall the Vice-President of the NPA

Yes, I vote fo the recall of NPA Vice-President, Captain Michael Surpine 842 74.38
No, I vote against the recall of NPA Vice-President, Captain Michael Surpine 290 25.62


There were 1462 eligible voters, for which 1132 cast ballots, representing 77.4% of the eligible voters. Of the 1132 ballots received, 369 (32.6%) were cast via IVR, and 763 (67.4%) were cast via the Web. There were 0 ballots cast in which the voter did not make a selection.

Captain Allen Philpot will send out a statement later today.

 

[Pancho]

Thank God!!!!!

 

[Max Powers]

Ok but is there a good replacement waiting in the wings? And if so who?

 

[gearup5]

I vote for lear!

 

[CitationLover]

good luck fellers.

i nominate lear70 for the job: he has a level head, has displayed leadership skills, and demonstrates a clear understanding of the economic situation at hand at air tran. RM for the job!

 

[gearup5]

Now we need to make sure we vote this turd down.

I worked with a couple Captains that thought this new TA was a great improvement. As I read the bullet points and pointed out the huge give backs I got the standard "that won't affect me" and my favorite "the company wouldn't do that"

 

[PCL_128]

Ok but is there a good replacement waiting in the wings? And if so who?

Lear70 (RM) without a doubt. He has clearly shown the analytical ability during this TA process, and he seems to have a good strategic mind for the process ahead.

 

[Kharma Police]

good luck fellers.

i nominate lear70 for the job: he has a level head, has displayed leadership skills, and demonstrates a clear understanding of the economic situation at hand at air tran. RM for the job!

Dude, you don't work at AirTran, the merger fell through!

 

[PCL_128]

Now we need to make sure we vote this turd down.

I worked with a couple Captains that thought this new TA was a great improvement. As I read the bullet points and pointed out the huge give backs I got the standard "that won't affect me" and my favorite "the company wouldn't do that"

I've heard many of the same comments. Hopefully this recall result is a good indication of how the pilots feel about the TA, but I'm not confident. This TA needs to go down just as big as the recall results for us to have real power to negotiate a good agreement.

 

[Britpilot]

Best news today. Those guys were completely out of touch. Welcome back to the line.

 

[boxlunch]

Lear is my #1 Vote!!!!

 

[Pancho]

I do work here. Lear for President!!

 

[tubelcane]

So what happens now?

Do guys nominate themselves, is there a campaign, when will we get to vote for new leadership?

Who is running the show now?

 

[CitationLover]

Dude, you don't work at AirTran, the merger fell through!

oh you're right. fuh-q guys instead!

 

[Kharma Police]

oh you're right. fuh-q guys instead!

Thanks, I guess you are pretty bored since "the cookie has been saved". I'll be sure to chime in when Midwest has new canidates for your MEC. Maybe you can run or at least vote when you get off probation.

 

[EMBATP]

so what do you guys think? will the rest of the BOD start resigning since they were aligned with the AP and MS, and make it a clean sweep, or will they try to hang on?

BTW i voted for the recall..if you dont like your elected officials, vote'em out....democracy in action!!!

 

[Lear70]

So what happens now?

Do guys nominate themselves, is there a campaign, when will we get to vote for new leadership?

Who is running the show now?

Thanks all for the vote of confidence.

I've been removed from the line and called down to Orlando for "concern about my health" since I'm just returning from OJI. My meeting is tomorrow morning, and I will respond more fully after that meeting.

To answer your questions, the bylaws are a little vague. They tell us what the procedures are for one or the other (Pres or VP) recalled, but not for what happens when BOTH are gone.

If you piece it together, it appears that the Sec/Treas becomes the interim NPA president and, since there's more than 6 months in AP's term remaining, it will go to special election with the nomination period opening shortly, then elections.

The candidates have to be nominated and send and sign a "willingness to serve" letter, similar to ALPA bylaws. The bylaws don't say whether they will put ALL candidates who are nominated on the ballot or whether, like ALPA, they will put just the top 2 nominated pilots (like an election inside an election). I'm guessing the latter is likely, but I'll post that information when I get it.

For the V.P. slot, normally because there would be a sitting president and there's less than 6 months remaining in his term (end of the year), there would be no special election. The BoD could "appoint" a V.P. (can't appoint a pres), but then that appointed V.P. has no BoD vote so it is kind of a lame duck position until the election.

Warning: educated guess ahead.

In all likelihood, we will have a nomination period opening next week (Allen had to step down IMMEDIATELY today and vacate office, as did Surrapine), for 15-21 days, taking us to around the end of the month.

Then we have an election, taking 15-21 days which takes us halfway through October. Then we have the V.P. nominations opening in November, so it'll all be pretty close together.

There are 2 more reps up for re-election at the end of the year anyway, so I doubt anyone will resign, although they might not run again. I hope at least one of them (BS) runs again. He's been about as straightforward as they come and is a good voice for the senior CA's.

Don't know MG very well to say one way or the other.

This has been a difficult process; it's never tasteful having to replace your elected leadership, and those leaving have done a lot of things that built the core structure of the NPA and its day-to-day operational ability. It is, however, time to take the next step in growing as an Association.

Please continue to talk to your coworkers about the T.A. Just because we had a successful recall vote in NO way guarantees a successful T.A. rejection vote. It does, however, give us some initiative and I urge all of you to build on that with everyone you talk to.

One step at a time...

 

[CitationLover]

Thanks, I guess you are pretty bored since "the cookie has been saved". I'll be sure to chime in when Midwest has new canidates for your MEC. Maybe you can run or at least vote when you get off probation.

are you kidding me, for the last year all we have heard was how to conduct ourselves in the potential merger.

you have fun. don't get mugged on the marta.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Thanks all for the vote of confidence.

I've been removed from the line and called down to Orlando for "concern about my health" since I'm just returning from OJI. My meeting is tomorrow morning, and I will respond more fully after that meeting.

Are they trying to give you the scare tactics for your hard work educating the pilot group or is this just routine? I hope there is someone in the union you can trust to support you.

 

[SLEDNECK]

Regarding the recall of the NPA President and Vice-President today it's important for you to know that the four remaining members of the NPA Board will continue to function as your elected Board of Directors and, consistent with the Constitution and Bylaws, exercise the "governmental powers of the Association."

The Constitution and Bylaws provide that in order to conduct the Association's business, a quorum of the Board is necessary. A "quorum" is defined as "three quarters or more of the ELECTED members of the full Board of Directors." With the recall of both the President and the Vice President, both positions are thereby deemed "vacant" because there are no longer "elected" officials to fill those positions. Since all of the remaining four members of the Board of Directors have been "elected," the Board can and will continue to meet and act if three of those "elected" Board members (3/4 of the total) are present. See Article IV, Section 10(c) of the Constitution and Bylaws.

It is not constitutionally required that the Board fill either vacancy created by the recall prior to a special Presidential election by the membership (scheduled for this fall). Article IV, Section 9 (Vacancies) provides that a special election must be held to fill a vacancy in a position whose term lasts for more than 6 months. Thus, there must be a special election for the President since his remaining term exceeds 6 months. The same section provides that a vacancy will not be filled by a special election if the remaining term is 6 months or less. Thus, there will not be a special election to for the Vice President prior to the expiration of this term in January 2008, at which point a regular election for Vice President will take place.

Again, whatever the Board decides on these interim appointment questions, the Association will still have a governing authority because the Constitution expressly provides that the "governmental powers of the Association shall be vested in the 'NPA Board of Directors.'"

 

[SLEDNECK]

Sorry, I had a hard time pasting, but that's the email I just got. I can't believe it. I seriously don't think the BOD could get anything right at this point.

 

[XJohXJ]

Sorry to butt in, but what's OJI? Is the company pulling a power play on you?

 

[Lear70]

Are they trying to give you the scare tactics for your hard work educating the pilot group or is this just routine?

Well, seeing as I *just* got through seeing THEIR doctor for a return-to-work physical exam last Thursday (Section 15 compliant) and THEIR doctor released me with no restrictions... and NOW they have questions about my health?

I'll let you be the judge.

I hope there is someone in the union you can trust to support you.

Yes. Brad Simms. He may not like me or want to go out and drink a beer together, but he's hands-down straight-arrow from what I've seen so far over the last year and a half. Our General Counsel (attorney), Sal Faletta will be there as well.

Per the contract, this should have been handled by the Director of Flying. It's highly unusual, bordering on *SUSPECT*, given my union activities of the last 90 days including sitting across from Klaus & party at the negotiating table, that I would go STRAIGHT to Klaus' office without even a phone call from Floy.

Sorry to butt in, but what's OJI? Is the company pulling a power play on you?

OJI is an On-the-Job-Injury.

 

[Lear70]

Sorry, I had a hard time pasting, but that's the email I just got. I can't believe it. I seriously don't think the BOD could get anything right at this point.

Technically it's correct, it's just worded a little strangely at the beginning of the 3rd paragraph.

What I think they were trying to say is that they don't have to "appoint" someone prior to a special election, and that the special election will be this fall (it's September going on October, so a few weeks at most).

Like we said during the recall, the BoD and the NPA will continue to function just fine until replacements are elected; there's plenty of very capable people still in office (Devaney, Simms, etc).

 

[XJohXJ]

Sorry to hear about it Lear! Hope you're better, and wish you the best in your company meeting.

 

[Kharma Police]

are you kidding me, for the last year all we have heard was how to conduct ourselves in the potential merger.

you have fun. don't get mugged on the marta.

OK, I'll have fun. You do the same, now go away and remember (I know this might be hard) try not to run your mouth while you're on probation.

 

[wood pecker]

Hey Lear don't forget a secret mini recorder, I have a non pilot friend who was able to cash in on a lawsuit based on what happened behind closed doors. Thanks again for all of your hard work, I barely have time to read your info w/ kids, I can't imagine the hours you put in to educating this pilot group. I don't think they will screw w/ you knowing the support you have on the line, hell I might be too upset to go fly this month.
Are they going to positive space you both ways?

 

[snuba]

Well, seeing as I *just* got through seeing THEIR doctor for a return-to-work physical exam last Thursday (Section 15 compliant) and THEIR doctor released me with no restrictions... and NOW they have questions about my health?

I'll let you be the judge.


Yes. Brad Simms. He may not like me or want to go out and drink a beer together, but he's hands-down straight-arrow from what I've seen so far over the last year and a half. Our General Counsel (attorney), Sal Faletta will be there as well.

Per the contract, this should have been handled by the Director of Flying. It's highly unusual, bordering on *SUSPECT*, given my union activities of the last 90 days including sitting across from Klaus & party at the negotiating table, that I would go STRAIGHT to Klaus' office without even a phone call from Floy.


OJI is an On-the-Job-Injury.

Airtran at it's finest. Don't let them intimidate you. This is why we need a strong union, contract and leadership. Good luck Lear we are all in your corner.

 

[Stewie]

Hey lear,

how long have you been here at airTran?

 

[AlbieF15]

This recall is a good thing--it will have ripples at other airline MECs around the country. Do not forget who you serve...