What caused the only good Sapa President to Leave?

[120% Torque]

Some of you are already aware of this but for those not present when this all went down I want to relay some of the details of the debacle that lead to M stepping down as Sapa President. I firmly believe his intentions were 100% good and that he was the first sapa president in a long, long time not in bed with management. He tried to get transparency and accountability where it had never been and the "sapa brotherhood" collapsed on top of him like secret service agents trying to protect the president. The only difference here being that the "President" was Skywest management and their questionable activities.

In his own words from an email sent out to his constituents, read below:

Dear fellow SkyWest Pilot,

I ran for SAPA President on a platform of honest communication with you and this update is issued pursuant to that promise. I believe it’s my duty to be completely open and honest with you about my activities as president, as well as what is going on within SAPA and between SAPA and SkyWest, Inc. In the April flight operations meeting I was asked to sign a confidentiality agreement which would prevent me from disclosing various things I discuss with management. I felt this would prevent me from fulfilling my promise of open, honest communication and therefore I refused to sign the agreement.

Last week I went to SFO to attend the hearing regarding the current lawsuit between the SkyWest Pilots ALPA Organizing Committee and SkyWest. I felt it was my responsibility as president of SAPA to observe the proceedings and hear the testimony and arguments regarding the organization I currently lead on your behalf. It’s important to note that I was not told of this hearing by anyone from SkyWest management or SAPA; I found out about the proceedings from a fellow pilot. During the hearing I also learned that SAPA Secretary Mike E, Jim B and David L were scheduled to testify on behalf of SkyWest Inc. Following are some of my observations from the testimony that bear directly on SAPA:

 SkyWest claimed that SAPA is a “representative” as defined under the Railway Labor Act and has a “contract” with SkyWest management. Clearly there is a huge gap in our understanding of what SAPA is! If SkyWest is correct in its assertion, then I assume that there are a number of specific responsibilities and requirements under the RLA that neither SkyWest nor SAPA has been fulfilling.
 When questioned, Mike E testified that he is the “administrative head” of SAPA: It appears that there is some confusion regarding the Executive Board members’ duties and responsibilities and it is my intention as SAPA’s “chief administrative officer” to eliminate this confusion by clearly communicating to each of the respective officers the specific responsibilities I wish to delegate to their office. During the hearing it also came to my attention that there is a question concerning the eligibility, as outlined in our By-Laws, of one of our Executive Board members to serve on the SAPA Board. I intend to look into this situation because I feel it is my duty as SAPA President to ensure that our organization operates under the rules that are in place.

On the last day of the hearing, the Organizing Committee’s counsel, with my permission, made a spur-of-the-moment decision to put me on the stand to respond to certain previous testimony, notably who is the “administrative head of SAPA,” and certain information regarding the decision to expand the number of Executive Board officers from one to three. During cross examination I was asked whether I was an ALPA supporter. I responded “yes”. To many of you, this will come as no surprise. While I have not been “public” in my support of ALPA, neither have I been particularly secretive. However, like many of my colleagues, I chose not to publicize my support for ALPA for personal and professional reasons that I am sure you all understand without me detailing them. I am, first and foremost, a pilot advocate! You wanted someone who would communicate with you directly, and this is what I am doing.

Other outstanding issues:

Cancellation Pay
SkyWest has... not agreed with our interpretation of how it should be paid going
forward. This is interesting to me because if it was correct in the past requiring
management to pay PIC’s retroactively, it should be a correct interpretation for pay going
forward. I will continue to work towards resolution and I will keep you informed as this
discussion continues.​

​

Line Flying
There have been some questions regarding EB members flying the line. While current
policy does not require EB members to actually fly the line, I feel it is important that we
stay current and keep in touch with what is happening on line with pilots and with
operational issues. Only line experience can provide that perspective. I do not bid or hold
a line. However I have been, and will continue, to pick up trips and fly the line.​

​

That’s it for this update.
MN
SAPA President​

 

[120% Torque]

For clarification, Mike E. referred to above is the Sapa secretary. For the record, the sitting sapa president wasn't told of or invited by skywest management or any of the other sapa reps who were invited and who gave very "conflicting" testimony, At this hearing, Mike E. complied with managements request that he testify that he himself was the "Administative Head of Sapa" and it was therefore implied that he was the person best to tell of sapas structure. You can imagine that was a surprise to the large majority who had voted the sitting president in. It is even more troubling when you learn that Mike E, the sapa rep speaking on behalf of the companies plight hasn't flown the line in years. He doesn't even have a medical certificate anymore. He has remained in his secretary postion, running errands for the company for years due to a policy drawn up by the sapa good ol boys club that doesn't allow regular skywest pilots to vote for him or vote him out as it were. Keep in mind he is supposed to represent the average "line pilot" and yet he's not an active pilot himself. Not only doesn't he have an active medical certificate, he rarely talks or is seen by line pilots, is paid directly by the company for his services, answers directly to the company, has an office in SGU and yet he is SUPPOSED to be representing the pilots. See any conflict of interest here? So much info like this has been passed over for so long, people fearing repercussions for making it their issue but enough is enough. No more. This is wrong. Even in the event Alpa does not get voted in these types of insider operations need to change! Skywest pilots need to be represented some day. I just hope it's sooner as opposed to later.

 

[Metro752]

Boring.

 

[120% Torque]

Boring.

Maybe you should go back to your movie....aliens blowing up large buildings n stuff. I think that will capture your attention span a little better. Besides why try to understand things that affect fellow pilots or the profession when there are aliens and explosions on TV?

 

[Metro752]

What your problem is Skywest is full of a bunch of left coast pu$$ys who don't have the balls to do anything, and have a me first attitude. Not all, but enough to where nothing will get done. They got theirs, they are happy, a good deal of them I am sure would be manual labor or some non-professional trade if it weren't for aviation.

Wow how elitist does that sound.

Sorry.

 

[pookie]

Wow, you flew with a guy from SkyWest in a Citabria and you have full knowledge about the company. How can i be like you...

I agree that skywest is full of pussies but those pussies need an ass kicking.

 

[Erlanger]

120% Torque, the reason "M" was forced out as SAPA President, was that he was sabatoging SAPA from the inside. He is so pro ALPA and the only reason he got involved with SAPA was to end it. Incase you haven't noticed, over the last 3 years most of the new SAPA reps are now pro-ALPA and were before joining SAPA. It's been their strategy for years to infiltrate it and gain control of SAPA and bring it down. He was forced to resign when it was apparent of the conflict of interest and the anti-ALPA folks were able to force him out. I'm for ALPA at Skywest but until ALPA comes on property, a SAPA rep's job is to represent us to the best of their abilities without ulterior motives.

 

[Skyjet]

The only Good president that SAPA every had was Todd.

 

[Exskydiverdrivr]

Whether you like SAPA or not it sure gets old having the "Dave's" (DC, DL,DA) constantly giving you the company line all the time.

 

[120% Torque]

120% Torque, the reason "M" was forced out as SAPA President, was that he was sabatoging SAPA from the inside. He is so pro ALPA and the only reason he got involved with SAPA was to end it. Incase you haven't noticed, over the last 3 years most of the new SAPA reps are now pro-ALPA and were before joining SAPA. It's been their strategy for years to infiltrate it and gain control of SAPA and bring it down. He was forced to resign when it was apparent of the conflict of interest and the anti-ALPA folks were able to force him out. I'm for ALPA at Skywest but until ALPA comes on property, a SAPA rep's job is to represent us to the best of their abilities without ulterior motives.

If your idea of "sabatoging" means communicating better with the pilots about what is really going on in those meetings and asking for accountability then I would agree. How, in your mind exactly was the sapa president trying to sabatage sapa? The accusations dont make any sense. Anything he is accused of, he could have done without being a sapa rep. I believe his motives were honest. If you know M, you would know he is a man of high integrity, character and values. Can you say the same of DL, JB, DA, TF, ME, or any of the rest of the incumbant rat pack that has pushed managements agenda for so long? Once again, how did M try to sabatage sapa other than asking straight questions to management, trying to disolve the questionable antics of the incumbants and then reporting EXACTLY, with no spin, what happened in each event? Thankyou in advance for your response.

 

[Skywest Pylot]

120% Torque, the reason "M" was forced out as SAPA President, was that he was sabatoging SAPA from the inside. He is so pro ALPA and the only reason he got involved with SAPA was to end it. Incase you haven't noticed, over the last 3 years most of the new SAPA reps are now pro-ALPA and were before joining SAPA. It's been their strategy for years to infiltrate it and gain control of SAPA and bring it down. He was forced to resign when it was apparent of the conflict of interest and the anti-ALPA folks were able to force him out. I'm for ALPA at Skywest but until ALPA comes on property, a SAPA rep's job is to represent us to the best of their abilities without ulterior motives.

I voted for MN because I felt he was a straight shooter. Still feel that way. I didn't used to be a proponent of ALPA but after watching what happened to MN I am now. The fact is ALPA is much better than what we have now. For me it is worth the 1.95%, tax deductable dues to get a leg to stand on in my career at SkyWest.

 

[Nightrain_080]

120% Torque, the reason "M" was forced out as SAPA President, was that he was sabatoging SAPA from the inside. He is so pro ALPA and the only reason he got involved with SAPA was to end it. Incase you haven't noticed, over the last 3 years most of the new SAPA reps are now pro-ALPA and were before joining SAPA. It's been their strategy for years to infiltrate it and gain control of SAPA and bring it down. He was forced to resign when it was apparent of the conflict of interest and the anti-ALPA folks were able to force him out. I'm for ALPA at Skywest but until ALPA comes on property, a SAPA rep's job is to represent us to the best of their abilities without ulterior motives.

He had all the best intentions for the pilot group.
He would have stayed and fought for the pilots regardless of the Alpa vote outcome. The only reason he was shown the door is because he didn't think and act like a pawn. All the rest of the EB and good old boy network are the ones who have their "Ive got mine attitude" didn't want him stirring the pot.

The last 6 years M. was the only president with BaLLS.

 

[Flooder305]

I'm not exactly sure what the point of this whole thread is... Everyone knows within OO what went down here, no need to go public. Mark has moved on, and while he was wronged by the entrenched SAPA do-nothing figureheads, this new president Bill seems to have a good handle on things, and is communicating well. Whether or not he will get to continue in that capacity remains to be seen per the outcome of the ALPA vote. If the whole point of this is to say that Mike E. needs to be have his positioned affirmed by the general membership I agree. All the exec-board positions should have term limits just like the reps, and one should have to remain a rep through popular vote in order to keep a higher status. That way the general membership has a say in the exec-board indirectly. Other than that what are we doing here? We all need to move on and focus on what's ahead...

 

[120% Torque]

I'm not exactly sure what the point of this whole thread is... Everyone knows within OO what went down here, no need to go public. Mark has moved on, and while he was wronged by the entrenched SAPA do-nothing figureheads, this new president Bill seems to have a good handle on things, and is communicating well. Whether or not he will get to continue in that capacity remains to be seen per the outcome of the ALPA vote. If the whole point of this is to say that Mike E. needs to be have his positioned affirmed by the general membership I agree. All the exec-board positions should have term limits just like the reps, and one should have to remain a rep through popular vote in order to keep a higher status. That way the general membership has a say in the exec-board indirectly. Other than that what are we doing here? We all need to move on and focus on what's ahead...

One would think that "everyone knows what went down here" but it seems plenty of the new guys dont. This is here for their benefit. If you are already aware of these facts then skip this thread.

One quick question, how does the new Sapa president Bill S. have a "good handle on things and is communicating well" when he is selling information that is not true via the company email to all pilots? Please read the below thread and get back with me. Thanks

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=104404

 

[Gr82Aviate]

120% Torque, the reason "M" was forced out as SAPA President, was that he was sabatoging SAPA from the inside. He is so pro ALPA and the only reason he got involved with SAPA was to end it. Incase you haven't noticed, over the last 3 years most of the new SAPA reps are now pro-ALPA and were before joining SAPA. It's been their strategy for years to infiltrate it and gain control of SAPA and bring it down. He was forced to resign when it was apparent of the conflict of interest and the anti-ALPA folks were able to force him out. I'm for ALPA at Skywest but until ALPA comes on property, a SAPA rep's job is to represent us to the best of their abilities without ulterior motives.

"Sabatoging SAPA"????????? He was actually trying to allow SAPA to represent pilots, like it was supposed to be doing all along!!!