National Association of Airline Professionals (NAAP)

This is a group of legacy AA employees that is trying to break away from the TWU and form an Inhouse union that would represent both the Dispatchers and the sim instructors at the merged carrier. What I do know is their president is an AA simulator instructor who until recently was president of Local 541, but resigned that post and began heading up the NAAP movement. It should be noted that 541 (legacy AA sim instructors) had similar charges brought against them that 542 did. I am not overly familiar with 541 but the 542 charges were legit based on evidence that I have seen from both the union and third parties.

I personally understand why a lot of AA dispatchers feel strongly about this issue. That being said, about seven years ago I watched a pilot group frustrated by some of the same issues that the dispatch group at both AA and US face...and thus this group broke away from ALPA and formed USAPA. Today we sit...and that group still does not have a joint contract or seniority list. While the temptation is there for NAAP....and I do believe enough support is there for them to potentially win a vote...I saw what happened with USAPA...and I don't want to see the dispatch groups go down that same path.
 
The NAAP is going to be the new AA dispatch union.

My guess is the NAAP will be voted in as the AA dispatch union in the next 4-6 months, depending on the NMB red tape.

I think they are trying to get a website up. Not sure when that may happen.

The only thing I am not completely sure of is if the US dispatchers will get to vote. Some of their dispatchers signed the NAAP cards for a vote. In any case, the NAAP will likely at some point adsorb the US dispatchers given the superior numbers at AA compared to US.
 
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Flagship that's not true. According to the notice from the NMB that I saw...it's for sim instructors and dispatchers. Does anyone know how many dispatchers are on the AA seniority list?
 
There are around 200 dispatchers and coordinators on the list. There will be retirements and new hires this year so the numbers are going to fluctuate a little.
 
Well there are 180 on the USAirways list at the moment, and if plans to hire 20 more like the company says happen...we will be about even. I wouldn't hold my breath on the hiring though.
 
I was not sure your exact group size. The one list I saw was before you guys hired a bunch so obviously with your hiring the gap has closed a bit.
 
I had heard that once the merger was officially announced the seniority lists were "frozen" and any new hires after that date would not be able to vote on merger-related issues. Anyone know if there is any truth to that?
 
FlightController said:
I've heard something from a guy in the latest US class that they are all on special project duty? Huh?
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Almost. Our wonderful new VP of Ops has decided that all comp checks are suspended UFN. How about that? We had three lines open so the top three people got signed off and put on those lines. The other nine are working their way through merger related stuff; reviewing policies, procedures, manuals, etc.

The American way is the best way.
 
BruinsFan said:
Flagship that's not true. According to the notice from the NMB that I saw...it's for sim instructors and dispatchers. Does anyone know how many dispatchers are on the AA seniority list?
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According to the notice on our bulletin board and what the local sent out, this election includes the dispatchers at AA and US.
 
BigFellor said:
I had heard that once the merger was officially announced the seniority lists were "frozen" and any new hires after that date would not be able to vote on merger-related issues. Anyone know if there is any truth to that?
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The way I understand it, within 5 days after the NAAP filed with the NMB, the company (AA) has 5 days to provide a list of names of all the employees in the classification to the NMB, the TWU and the NAAP. Those people will be the only ones who can vote in the election, unless there is a challenge to add or delete by either party.
 
BigFellor said:
Almost. Our wonderful new VP of Ops has decided that all comp checks are suspended UFN. How about that? We had three lines open so the top three people got signed off and put on those lines. The other nine are working their way through merger related stuff; reviewing policies, procedures, manuals, etc.

The American way is the best way.
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Why didn't the union insist on putting senior guys on the merger related stuff and comp check the new people to back fill the senior people?
 
Maybe for once the 545 members will start seeking out the truth and stop falling for the BS being spewed by TWU 545 "leaders" and the International. There has never been ANY talk of putting US at the bottom of the list - dovetail has always been our position - yet, when Danny Persuit is asked what US 545 position is and responds with "I can't commit to that". Why not? The TWU merger policy is also in your own CB, right?

The 545 president doesn't respond for months to proposals, INCLUDING the "best of" transition agreement that has fifty percent US work sked and fifty percent AA work sked? Every air carrier in the pay band averaging clause have agreed on new TA's and are getting raises, are US 545 is holding out of what? No raises? No PRP bonus? Seriously? What is the motive for the US 545 "leadership" and TWU International to be acting like this? Does the 545 think they can just fold their arms, pout and refuse to talk and somehow result will be a delay in moving to Texas? Somehow AA mgmt will voluntarily throw $100 bills at the 545 to wipe your tears and say it will be ok?

I hope NAAP reaches out to the 545 members and help see that the TWU is nothing but lies and only serves the International's interests. It's time for a union that is run by the dispatchers of the group and not by some sleazy thug union with an office that overlooks Central Park making hundreds of thousands of dollars off OUR (545 AND 542) backs, while we are associated with toll booth operators, cab & bus drivers and sanitation engineers.

Another hope is that the 545 members reach out to any of the AA Dispatchers. We would be happy to answer any questions about our views on seniority intervention, work schedules and anything else you want to ask. Do not believe the BS you are being fed by 545/Int'l!!!!!!
 
Bogey2 said:
Why didn't the union insist on putting senior guys on the merger related stuff and comp check the new people to back fill the senior people?
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Bogey...what you stated was the desired result of both the Company and the Union. The company actually has been trying to do what you advocate for a while. The issue that has been raised is contractual. The issue boils down to this. Most of the senior dispatchers are blockholders per the contract. Our contract says that blockholder shifts may only be changed under very specific circumstances. The merger related activities do not appear to be on that list. Now enters the project line language in the contract. The nine new hires have essentially created "project lines." But because new lines are created...any dispatcher on the floor should have the first right to bid said line (which includes weekends off). However..the company tried to solicit help without consulting the union...which angered the union. Even so....I believe only three senior dispatchers on the floor volunteered from the domestic side...with a few on the international side which doesnt help the new hire group because they will not be qualified internationally until the Robert Baker IOC opens. And you cant use domestic blockholders to fill international desks without asking them...and I don't know too many domestic dispatchers who are eager to work the international side. So that is in a nutshell why the new hires are locked into the merger stuff. As for the reason the new hires haven't actually been checked off yet....what it boils down to is Kimball Stone is afraid of a greivance being filed as to why the new hires can get signed off and have weekends off right off the bat. Given the amount of greivances that are sitting on the arbitrators desk...this is the last thing both sides want.
 
Mel-Yoda said:
Maybe for once the 545 members will start seeking out the truth and stop falling for the BS being spewed by TWU 545 "leaders" and the International. There has never been ANY talk of putting US at the bottom of the list - dovetail has always been our position - yet, when Danny Persuit is asked what US 545 position is and responds with "I can't commit to that". Why not? The TWU merger policy is also in your own CB, right?

The 545 president doesn't respond for months to proposals, INCLUDING the "best of" transition agreement that has fifty percent US work sked and fifty percent AA work sked? Every air carrier in the pay band averaging clause have agreed on new TA's and are getting raises, are US 545 is holding out of what? No raises? No PRP bonus? Seriously? What is the motive for the US 545 "leadership" and TWU International to be acting like this? Does the 545 think they can just fold their arms, pout and refuse to talk and somehow result will be a delay in moving to Texas? Somehow AA mgmt will voluntarily throw $100 bills at the 545 to wipe your tears and say it will be ok?

I hope NAAP reaches out to the 545 members and help see that the TWU is nothing but lies and only serves the International's interests. It's time for a union that is run by the dispatchers of the group and not by some sleazy thug union with an office that overlooks Central Park making hundreds of thousands of dollars off OUR (545 AND 542) backs, while we are associated with toll booth operators, cab & bus drivers and sanitation engineers.

Another hope is that the 545 members reach out to any of the AA Dispatchers. We would be happy to answer any questions about our views on seniority intervention, work schedules and anything else you want to ask. Do not believe the BS you are being fed by 545/Int'l!!!!!!
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Mel...I have tried to reach out to AA people about this issue. I specifically addressed the 542 board (before the actions that the international took this week) because I do believe my views on this need to be heard to be represented as do The response I got from 542 was "it is not appropriate for us to have conversations with 545 members at this time".

As for the response to proposals...I raised that question with someone on the 545 negotiating committee. He said the unresponsiveness argument was BS, and that he raised that issue with some 542 members. The other thing you guys should know is the way AA the company has been treating 545 since the merger. 545 asked for LOAs concerning PRP....and also raises. AA has told us consistently that they only way we get any changes in our own contract is a joint contract with AA. Additionally, moving packages have been a big stumbling block which they have been working fevorishly to get done since 545 is well aware that many members want to move to DFW ASAP and cannot effectively do so without knowing what is in the package. 545 has made many trips to Dallas, and even showed up for a joint bargaining session with 542, which 542 pulled out of and gave the company one reason and 545 a totally different reason for not attending.

One question I do raise is this though. If John Plowman sent Danny a joint proposal as many in 542 have suggested....why did he share that with 542 members and not all of 545?

I share you views about the TWU. As I have stated before though, as much as I want to get rid of the TWU, this is not the right time to do so. All you need to do is look at USAPA to see what happens in these types of situations. After we get a joint contract ratified though, I would gladly oust TWU in favor of either PAFCA or NAAP. I would prefer PAFCA myself.
 
BruinsFan said:
As for the response to proposals...I raised that question with someone on the 545 negotiating committee. He said the unresponsiveness argument was BS, and that he raised that issue with some 542 members. The other thing you guys should know is the way AA the company has been treating 545 since the merger. 545 asked for LOAs concerning PRP....and also raises. AA has told us consistently that they only way we get any changes in our own contract is a joint contract with AA. Additionally, moving packages have been a big stumbling block which they have been working fevorishly to get done since 545 is well aware that many members want to move to DFW ASAP and cannot effectively do so without knowing what is in the package. 545 has made many trips to Dallas, and even showed up for a joint bargaining session with 542, which 542 pulled out of and gave the company one reason and 545 a totally different reason for not attending.

One question I do raise is this though. If John Plowman sent Danny a joint proposal as many in 542 have suggested....why did he share that with 542 members and not all of 545?
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The International prevented our elected board from talking about negotiations to your group. We still have not received an answer from the International regarding why our two groups have been denied the ability to negotiate.

Can you not see that both groups are being played by the International?

Since Monday, when our board resigned - emails showing exactly how messed up things are - are being released. Now that they have resigned, the ball should be rolling. I assume you have not seen the first batch of emails or the minutes from the Presidents council meeting on April 29 - May 1st 2014? If you haven't, I suggest you ask your own leaders for it or simply call or email one of us.
 
I don't think anyone is in disagreement about the international really screwing things up here. I have had numerous conversations with a guy here named Don Wright, who is the former 545 president. It is no secret that there is no love lost between Don and Danny, but he told me that he felt what the international did was wrong, and that Danny isn't blameless here. That being said, he knows more about this stuff than anyone here in PIT, and he feels its in our best interest to stay TWU until after a joint contract.

I do want to see these emails....and I am actually eager to see a transcript of the hearing in two weeks.
 
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