ALPA's latest screw up at ASA.

[N1VIBS]

Could be interesting if a pilot is actually up to date and due to ALPA accounting screwups, they try to have him fired!! Don't know how many more lawsuits ALPA can afford to lose.

 

[asa rat]

Well for a union that is so paranoid about getting sued they sure aren't covering their bases on this...

Fire me for YOUR screw up then watch for a lawsuit.

 

[JoeMerchant]

How much was the assessment?

I think is pretty much standard that any union can get a member fired for not paying dues. Imagine if there were not consequences for not paying dues. People wouldn't pay and it would be a mess.

Scott

Scott,

I know why the agency shop was put in the contract, I helped put it in there. Times were much different then however...We worked for a terrible company with terrible management and the union hadn't screwed many things up yet...Times are different now....Skywest is much better than our former management, and ALPA can't get anything right anymore...

For the record, before we had agency shop, most pilots still joined because they WANTED to join...If your organization is worth joining, then people will join it. Taking away the ability to fire them makes them become lazy.....In retrospect, it was a huge mistake....

 

[Scope out RJ's]

Your mom has seen what I can do, and she pays a lot more than $5 for the priviledge.

Yeah, I know pee wee, I've heard all about it! After all, its all you can afford on that stellar Wendy's salary.:laugh:

 

[Copydat]

Joe,
Your procedure has its own faults. IE. your six checks will bounce back with "insufficient postage". Current 1st class postage is 44 cents! Obviously this delima requires a committee meeting.

ALPA hasn't done their "due diligence" since this began.

1. The vote was compromised as people who weren't eligible to vote actually did vote.
2. They didn't have an accurate roster of pilots when they came up with the formula to figure out how much the assessment would be....therefor that formula isn't going to cover the expenses in the first place.
3. They are only "estimating" the amount owed. They say they can't give an exact accounting unless the MEC "chooses" to do so.
4. Why am I getting a "scare" letter from someone who can't even tell me exactly what I owe....at least the credit card company knows the exact amount.
5. Why do I even have to do the math to figure it out...Why doesn't the statement show the math...My credit card statements show the math.
6. Can't pay it at once, you have to mail 6 separate checks at 41 cents postage each....Who's bright idea was that?

There hasn't been any "due diligence" and that is the problem...

I agree that it is all bark and no bite....Can you imagine ALPA actually trying to go forward with this?

 

[WWEfan]

It will still get there with a $0.41 stamp on it.

 

[ohplease!]

We either need new LEC/MEC leadership willing to stand up to National -OR- (better yet IMHO) get rid of alpa and represent ourselves.

VIVA LA REVOLUCION!

its well past time............

 

[samballs]

I think more and more groups are starting to realize ALPA has slowed careers

 

[DrunkIrishman]

Joe-

You attempted to do something about getting rid of ALPA at ASA and it did not succeed. For that I commend you for trying to be a part of the solution rather than part of the problem. However, wouldn't nicer for you to spend your last couple of decades just enjoying your job instead of crying foul everytime ALPA does something wrong (allegedly)?

 

[701EV]

ALPA should be embarrassed over this!

Right now they are the laughing stock at ASA.

There going to have someone fired over $25. Give me a brake!

It's time for a BIG change in ALPA leadership.

701EV

 

[SEVEN]

ALPA should be embarrassed over this!

Right now they are the laughing stock at ASA.

There going to have someone fired over $25. Give me a brake!

It's time for a BIG change in ALPA leadership.

701EV

ALPA is a laughing stock in more pilot groups than not. Folks are starting to wise up about ALPA. ALPA sometimes forgets that WE/I AM ALPA! I along with thousands and thousands of others, pay thousands of dollars yearly and the money I pay had better be spent very wisely. It's time for big "shake-up's" at ALPA. We need to remind them who is paying the bills.

 

[anon]

Go for it ALPA

I say we call their bluff on this one. Go ahead and try to get 300 pilots fired based on ALPA's admittedly weak accounting practices. Good luck with that.

ALPA, you've overplayed your hand. People finally realize how weak and useless you really are.

 

[centralpilot]

This assessment was poorly conceived and executed worse, despite hearts being in the right place. Hopefully this debacle will motivate people to actually vote if anyone proposes to extend the program.

 

[FightingIrish]

This assessment was poorly conceived and executed worse, despite hearts being in the right place. Hopefully this debacle will motivate people to actually vote if anyone proposes to extend the program.

There is talk of having to extend it now with the new furloughs. If it is extended, the amount will likely have to increase.

 

[1080P]

I'm no ALPA fan and I have never received a bill for the dues, just my life insurance, I would love to pay and support my fellow pilots but I agree ALPA needs to get it together. Has anyone else not received a bill?????? I'm still in good standing also..

 

[FightingIrish]

I'm no ALPA fan and I have never received a bill for the dues, just my life insurance, I would love to pay and support my fellow pilots but I agree ALPA needs to get it together. Has anyone else not received a bill?????? I'm still in good standing also..

Have you been paying the assessment?

 

[centralpilot]

I'm no ALPA fan and I have never received a bill for the dues, just my life insurance, I would love to pay and support my fellow pilots but I agree ALPA needs to get it together. Has anyone else not received a bill?????? I'm still in good standing also..

You are not alone in not receiving bills for this assessment. I know of more than one in the same boat. The accounting on this assessment has been atrocious.

 

[centralpilot]

There is talk of having to extend it now with the new furloughs. If it is extended, the amount will likely have to increase.

We don't HAVE to do anything. We only voted to authorize 6 months of COBRA coverage. If ALPA wants to extend the program it'll have to go up for a vote again, unless I'm completely missing something. I can't imagine such a proposal passing again, given all these problems. Then again, widespread apathy caused it to pass in the first place, so who knows.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

You are not alone in not receiving bills for this assessment. I know of more than one in the same boat. The accounting on this assessment has been atrocious.

The ALPA staff has been cut with furloughs and layoffs....

 

[Richard Gozinya]

He went to SWA in June of 2008 and was in my ASA newhire class...He showed me the letter when I was at his house. He asked me what to do about....I said, just ignore it.

I received the same letter. It stated that I owed $19 for the year to be a "member" of ALPA. I ignored it, and received another when my resignation anniversary approached. This time for 2 years of dues. It took a phone call to the membership squaw and she cleared it up.

Dick

 

[ASADriver]

I haven't seen a bill yet. Now I get a letter in my vfile at work telling me I will be fired. Screw ALPA.

 

[sweptback]

I haven't seen a bill yet. Now I get a letter in my vfile at work telling me I will be fired. Screw ALPA.

If you get the insurance, it will be on the same bill. If you didn't get a bill, your address is probably not up to date. Do you get the magazine?

Also, personal responsibility plays into this as well. Everybody knew the assessment passed (based on the crewroom/FI banter the day after it barely passed), so if it's been several months and you haven't been billed yet, wouldn't you think to call and check on it?

I haven't seen the letters in the v-file, but I doubt they say that you will be fired. It's just like any debt -- they put the worst case scenario on there to get you to pay up. Firing somebody over $20 would be the stupidest thing National could do.

From what I understand, those letters were put in the V-files specifically because most people in bad standing did not have their address up to date, so it would be foolish to mail them.

 

[yournextFO]

As far as I know, Georgia is a "right to work" state, which in essence makes agency shop clauses irrevelevant.

Unless this has been repealed, seems like there's a huge legal battle on the horizon. On the other hand, since we're covered by the RLA, this may be a case of federal law superceding Georgia law. Any labor attorneys out there care to weigh in?

§ 34-6-24. Contracts requiring membership in or payments to labor organizations as condition of employment.
It shall be unlawful for any employer to contract with any labor organization and for any labor organization to contract with any employer so as to require as a condition of employment or continuance of employment that any individual be or remain a member of a labor organization or that any individual pay any fee, assessment, or other sum of money whatsoever to a labor organization. (Enacted March 27, 1947.)

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

As far as I know, Georgia is a "right to work" state, which in essence makes agency shop clauses irrevelevant.

Unless this has been repealed, seems like there's a huge legal battle on the horizon. On the other hand, since we're covered by the RLA, this may be a case of federal law superceding Georgia law. Any labor attorneys out there care to weigh in?

§ 34-6-24. Contracts requiring membership in or payments to labor organizations as condition of employment.
It shall be unlawful for any employer to contract with any labor organization and for any labor organization to contract with any employer so as to require as a condition of employment or continuance of employment that any individual be or remain a member of a labor organization or that any individual pay any fee, assessment, or other sum of money whatsoever to a labor organization. (Enacted March 27, 1947.)

GA law trumps the CFR?

 

[PCL_128]

On the other hand, since we're covered by the RLA, this may be a case of federal law superceding Georgia law.

Bingo!

 

[the palm]

Don't worry guys, I have been put in charge of this situation. I called in a favor from the the NSA and they will be rerunning the dues numbers.

Those of you who think you are hiding with old/fake addresses, the NSA will find you.

Pay up or Pay the wrath of the PALM!!!!!

 

[JoeMerchant]

The ALPA staff has been cut with furloughs and layoffs....

Cry me a fricking river....We have furloughs and layoffs also....:bawling:

 

[JoeMerchant]

Also, personal responsibility plays into this as well. Everybody knew the assessment passed (based on the crewroom/FI banter the day after it barely passed), so if it's been several months and you haven't been billed yet, wouldn't you think to call and check on it?

Wouldn't personal responsibility also suggest the amounts be correct? ALPA told me that they didn't have to be correct unless the MEC decides to do an audit...What say you?

I haven't seen the letters in the v-file, but I doubt they say that you will be fired. It's just like any debt -- they put the worst case scenario on there to get you to pay up. Firing somebody over $20 would be the stupidest thing National could do.

I have seen the letters, and they do threaten pilots with termination....Great PR ALPA....ALPA screws up the amount due, and then treatens to have the customer fired....If it wasn't for the DFR threat we have, it would definately be time to fire ALPA....

 

[crj567]

The ALPA staff has been cut with furloughs and layoffs....

My damn dues ain't been cut-although we are all stuck at guarantee pay now.

-There are many things ALPA does which I appreciate, but we need a new group running things around ASA. There is no excuse for errors of any kind with this stuff. We need fresh blood.

 

[sweptback]

Wouldn't personal responsibility also suggest the amounts be correct? ALPA told me that they didn't have to be correct unless the MEC decides to do an audit...What say you?

The story I was told by a rep was that the company was unwilling to give ALPA a roster of pilot earnings on a monthly basis to base the assessment off of, so National had to do the average earnings thing because that's all they had access to.

Have you called DN? What did he say about the audit? How much do you think you were overcharged?