Call to Action.... demand ALPA accountability!

SpiceWeasel

Tre Kronor
So, why are we treating our employees exactly the same as we don't want to be treated by our respective employers???

To: Unit 1 Staff
From: Unit 1 Officers and Negotiating Committee

We are pleased to announce that the National Labor Relations Board will be issuing a complaint on our third Unfair Labor Practice charge concerning the prohibition of posting Unit 1 signs in the Atlanta office. In prior communications, ALPA management has attempted to create the impression that issuance of a ULP complaint is a “routine” part of the Board’s processing of ULP charges. As a matter of fact, issuance of ULP complaints is far from routine.

In its 2008 Annual Report, the Board reported that, out of 22,497 ULP charges filed, more than 60% were dismissed (or withdrawn by the charging party under threat of dismissal) and, of the approximately 39% where the Board found merit, three-fourths were settled before a complaint issued. Only 9.4% of all ULP charges filed resulted in issuance of a complaint. We are 3 out of 3. The completeness of the investigation conducted by Board personnel before a complaint is issued assures that the General Counsel’s win/loss percentage on cases that come to trial will be very high.

Finally, the failure to reach agreement in mediation leaves us with no choice but to accelerate the processing of our dispute concerning the changes unilaterally imposed by management to our Retiree Health Plan. At last check this week, the RHP assets had climbed over $17,500,000, and this is not a case where there can be any reasonable claim that reductions in the RHP benefit are mandated by financial necessity. In fact, it is inconceivable that ALPA management would ever voluntarily accept on behalf of pilots the drastic cuts they are attempting to impose on their own employees. We ask ALPA's managers and pilot leaders, "Would you willingly accept these same cuts on behalf of the pilots ALPA represents?" We challenge ALPA's manager and pilot leaders to lead the labor movement forward, not backward. In failing to reach agreement, ALPA has consciously chosen to resolve the remaining issues in litigation. Unit 1 is fully prepared to proceed down that path, but we want to be clear that it is a path chosen unfortunately and unnecessarily by ALPA.
 
It would seem that management is management, whether at ALPA HQ or at an airline.
 
It would seem that management is management, whether at ALPA HQ or at an airline.

It appears so..... there was a phrase from a show I used to watch: "Trust No One".....

seems like it applies very well in the context of ALPA vs Management.....
 
You demand it on who you put into office when you vote. If you vote! ;)
 
Well, we can't, which is why it's totally important to pay attention to who you elect on the LEC level and who they elect on the MEC level.

I'm having the parallel issues here at Southernjets.
 
Doug, pay particular attention to the Unit 1 letter. The ALPA Atlanta office they are referring to is the DALPA office. Remind me to give you more info in Vegas.
 
Hi Guys,

>>Finally, the failure to reach agreement in mediation leaves us with no choice but to accelerate the processing of our dispute concerning the changes unilaterally imposed by management to our Retiree Health Plan. At last check this week, the RHP assets had climbed over $17,500,000, and this is not a case where there can be any reasonable claim that reductions in the RHP benefit are mandated by financial necessity.<<

Their retiree's have a health plan? Ummm....you mean beyond medicare?

What's wrong with this picture?

Richman
 
Their retiree's have a health plan? Ummm....you mean beyond medicare?

What's wrong with this picture?

Richman

I'm guessing that the guys negotiating their contract didn't cave when big bad management said we need to take your retirement plan or else the company is going to shut down tomorrow.
 
You think that guy is available to sit on the pilot side of the table next month?

:)

Ironically, the Unit 1 division of the ALPA staff is the attorneys and professional negotiators (along with engineers, communication specialists, etc...). ALPA management is sitting across the table bargaining with their own best negotiators. I always get a kick out of that. :)

The difference, of course, is that the Unit 1 membership tells the negotiators to hold strong, and all too often, we tell the very same professional negotiators to cave. They'll do whatever you tell them, and they'll do it damned well. You've just got to tell them the right things.
 
When is our next opportunity to vote for ALPA National Reps....

Your "vote" is cast by your LEC reps who will be at the next BOD. Don't expect for one minute that they will split their votes as you direct them to.

The only way to truly make your votes count is by passing a resolution at the LEC meeting just before the BOD. The resolution can direct your representatives to vote for a specific individual. You can also direct them to demand a recall.

You also have the right to attend the BOD as a member. You can't be on the floor with the reps, but in the gallery in the back. A great way to keep up on what your reps are really doing and to see a real dog and pony show. And don't miss the party...your dues money buys some really fine booze and drink.

And you thought Congressmen and Senators partied.

Remember that you have the right to recall any council officer who does not commit to follow the directive of the council membership.

It's all in the ALPA Constitution and ByLaws, downloadable from the website
 
Your "vote" is cast by your LEC reps who will be at the next BOD. Don't expect for one minute that they will split their votes as you direct them to.

Actually, many of them do, although I don't think they should. The general membership has no idea who the best man is for the job. Half of the status reps don't even know.

The only way to truly make your votes count is by passing a resolution at the LEC meeting just before the BOD. The resolution can direct your representatives to vote for a specific individual. You can also direct them to demand a recall.

No, actually, you can't. The ALPA Bylaws prohibit "mandating" of representatives. A resolution can't force the status reps to vote a certain way. If they don't vote how you want them to, you're free to try to recall them, though.

And don't miss the party...your dues money buys some really fine booze and drink.

Not anymore. Most of that stuff has gone away. The really big MECs may have modest hospitality suites, but that's about it nowadays. Not enough money for the good parties. I didn't exactly see you throwing a big protest about the parties in Vegas when you were on the BOD, by the way. :rolleyes:
 
ULP = unfair labor practice, which is a legal term under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) dealing with what companies and unions are allowed to do under the law. In this case, UALPAPAE (the union that represents the ALPA staff) Unit 1 (the part of the union that represents the "professional" staff like attorneys) filed a ULP regarding the DAL MEC office not allowing them to post their protest signs related to their contract negotiations. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued an official complaint, basically lending credence to the UALPAPAE claims.

The second part deals with the retiree health plan (RHP), which helps pay for retiree medical costs for UALPAPAE members after they've served enough years to retire. When ALPA didn't reach an agreement with UALPAPAE earlier this year, ALPA imposed terms on them, effectively giving them a new contract without their agreement. Part of these imposed terms was a reduction in their RHP benefit. UALPAPAE is saying that the value of the plan has shot up over the past few months, so there is no legitimate reason to do this.

Hope that was clearer.
 
ULP = unfair labor practice, which is a legal term under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) dealing with what companies and unions are allowed to do under the law. In this case, UALPAPAE (the union that represents the ALPA staff) Unit 1 (the part of the union that represents the "professional" staff like attorneys) filed a ULP regarding the DAL MEC office not allowing them to post their protest signs related to their contract negotiations. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued an official complaint, basically lending credence to the UALPAPAE claims.

The second part deals with the retiree health plan (RHP), which helps pay for retiree medical costs for UALPAPAE members after they've served enough years to retire. When ALPA didn't reach an agreement with UALPAPAE earlier this year, ALPA imposed terms on them, effectively giving them a new contract without their agreement. Part of these imposed terms was a reduction in their RHP benefit. UALPAPAE is saying that the value of the plan has shot up over the past few months, so there is no legitimate reason to do this.

Hope that was clearer.

Thanks.
 
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