National Association of Airline Professionals (NAAP)

69beers said:
Email sent to 545 regarding the hearing:

Brothers and Sisters,
Aug 14, 2014


On August 12th, 2014 Executive Board Members Dave Noble, Mark Turbish and Dan Persuit attended the TWU International hearing for charges against the Executive Board of Local 542. The hearing started at 10AM and continued until 11PM. This was phase one of hearings of two hearings. The second hearing was for similar charges against Local 541 on August 13th.

Despite the long day, information obtained as observers and witnesses was invaluable to us as Local 545 members. The testimony provided by witnesses’ Garry Drummond (ATD Director), Dave Virella (TWU AA System Coordinator), John O’Donnell (TWU International Accountant) and Gary Shults (TWU International Rep) painted a clear picture of the position and direction. As officers of the International, we take an oath to uphold the Constitution and abide by laws set forth by the Department of Labor. There were 59 Documents entered into evidence, many of which were directly correlated to both.

Local 545 testified about the NAAP raid, the lack of solidarity and the NMB filing.

Also in testimony, it was revealed that over 300 of the gift cards are not accounted for. There was not any confirmation that any of the Section Chairs or members received cards. A retainer fund for an Attorney of $50.000 was paid within a 30 day period prior to the Boards resignation. The Presidents phone and computer were wiped clean prior to return to the International. There were checks sent to Section Chairs for retirement and gifts after being instructed by the International not to disperse. This was done after hours followed by an email that instructed the Section Chairs to spend the money quickly before the International freezes the accounts. The entire transcript and evidence will be provided at a later time.

There may be some that are unhappy with the TWU International and its processes and practices. We can tell you it was impressive to see the seriousness and professionalism they took to uphold the Constitution, Labor Law and its members. It was not lost in the hearing that the Execute Board of 542 by resigning walked out on the 5 other Sections of the Local. Over 400 Members or two thirds of Local 542, were abandoned by the very people they trusted and elected. Who is there to protect these members? We can tell you that because you are part of an International Union and not an independent organization these Members have a voice and representation.

We are tentatively planning a GMM on September 3 at a time and place TBD. We are coordinating with members of the International Staff to attend. As always, thanks again for your patience and diligence as Local 545 Members.

In solidarity,

Dave Noble, Mark Turbish and Danny Persuit
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I just read this post again and felt I had to respond to beers. This is the same person who said he/she did not care about the outcome and something about purse swinging and hairpulling. Looks to me like you are joining the party.

I guess beers you are implying that the Local 545 members stayed until 11pm. That's not the word on the street here in Euless Tx.
They must have got all that valuable experience by about 5:00pm.

I guess your also implying that the other 400 Local 542 members dont have a collective bargaining agreements (CBA), or section chairs that routinely work with their respective companies enforcing those agreements to protect their members. That all those agreements and working relationships left with the 542 executive board. Really? I hope you are just quoting some rote propaganda and are not really in a union leadership position.

The leadership at Local 545 should have stayed out of Local 542 business. Instead, they were manipulated and played by the inernational. They look foolish coming in and testifying against the elected board with no knowledge of whats going on in this local and the AA section. The post by beers just supports that notion. It would have been easy, and true, to say we have no knowledge of what's going on with Local 542 and we want to stay out of this kankaroo court and respectfully remind them we all have to all work together one day. Looks like another bad decision by the president of Local 545.
 
It seems that the FAA needs to allow Dispatchers recreation use of pot, just like they should pilots.

We all could benefit from mellowing out a bit and discussing things like adults, sans name calling and anger.

(hint)
 
Purse swinging and hair pulling (hint).....

69beers,

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Today, AA has announced 4% base pay raises for all non-union workers below director level and all union workgroups that have a joint CBA in place (Flight Attendants only).

On May 1st, 2014 the TWU International notified AA that all negotiations were suspended and have still not given a reason why.

AA is making record breaking profits, oil prices have fallen like a rock, they are spending money faster than the government, and now are voluntarily giving out raises?

And what says the TWU? Nothing. Sitting around with thumbs up where the sun doesn't shine. Maybe the plan is to start working on a contract when an industry down turn happens, oil soars again or maybe all profit vanishes?

A big sincere Eff-U to the TWU Int'l & Local 545 "Leadership"!

I CANT WAIT TO VOTE IN NAAP!!!!!

Incredible.

/rant over
 
Mel-Yoda said:
Today, AA has announced 4% base pay raises for all non-union workers below director level and all union workgroups that have a joint CBA in place (Flight Attendants only).

On May 1st, 2014 the TWU International notified AA that all negotiations were suspended and have still not given a reason why.

AA is making record breaking profits, oil prices have fallen like a rock, they are spending money faster than the government, and now are voluntarily giving out raises?

And what says the TWU? Nothing. Sitting around with thumbs up where the sun doesn't shine. Maybe the plan is to start working on a contract when an industry down turn happens, oil soars again or maybe all profit vanishes?

A big sincere Eff-U to the TWU Int'l & Local 545 "Leadership"!

I CANT WAIT TO VOTE IN NAAP!!!!!

Incredible.

/rant over
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Gee I thought at least the TWU represented the dispatchers quite well. I know they totally suck for the mechanics at AA still can't figure out why they haven't been ousted. Guess TWU sucks all the way around.
 
I know 545 has been really busy getting ready for the upcoming UPS negotiations. That alone takes up a lot of resources preparing for another industry leading contract. What's the latest on the DOL investigation over the embezzlement charges, the TWU lawsuit against the former 541 & 542 executive boards to recover the liquidated treasury, and the NMB investigation on whether or not the NAAP election will actually take place? I never heard anything else after the subpoenas were served, but I imagine that could be tying things up too.
 
BruinsFan said:
I noticed that ExpressJet voted to keep TWU on instead of switching to PAFCA. Anyone know how they pulled this off?
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At the last minute the TWU finally had their Trustees (dudes that are temporarily running 542 after the issues from the old board) come in and pitch to stay with TWU to the membership. The basically stuck with three points. 1.They have more money in the bank 2.They offer license protection from FAA action 3.PAFCA would want an immediate joint seniority list effectively stapling mostly all XJT dispatchers to the bottom of the seniority list below a very senior Legacy ASA group and could lead to furloughs soon after. Many viewed the joint seniority wanted by PAFCA (and some though legacy ASA management) as almost a possible protection for the senior CRJ dispatchers due to the company slowly downsizing. PAFCA never refuted those 3 claims. Now whether or not those 3 things were true is another thing. But those 3 things coupled with the ultimate fear that the ERJ group would wind up at the bottom of the list and face losing their jobs swayed the vote immensely. Final tally was:

58 for TWU, 43 for PAFCA. With 78% voting.
 
Ah, classic fear campaign based on lies. Can someone chime in - wasnt that "stapling" method made illegal by legislation?
 
Mel-Yoda said:
Ah, classic fear campaign based on lies. Can someone chime in - wasnt that "stapling" method made illegal by legislation?
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Well it wasn't so much stapling. But that's where ERJ dispatchers would end up because you're talking mostly 2012-2013 hire dates (because of the move from IAH) up against 1997-2006 hires. That's what I meant.
 
Mel-Yoda said:
Can someone chime in - wasnt that "stapling" method made illegal by legislation?
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Let me go ask one of the former AirCal, Reno Air, or TWA dispatchers about stapling. I'll be right back......

Ok, I'm back. I couldn't find one because they were all stapled to the bottom of the AAL dispatch seniority list and fired.
 
69beers said:
Let me go ask one of the former AirCal, Reno Air, or TWA dispatchers about stapling. I'll be right back......

Ok, I'm back. I couldn't find one because they were all stapled to the bottom of the AAL dispatch seniority list and fired.
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While I think those guys got screwed...the law Yoda is referring to didn't pass until after the TWA merger and in fact passed because of what happened then.
 
Allegheny-Mohawk was well before these mergers/executions. After TWA, TWU adopted an official seniority integration policy for two merging TWU groups. Even with this in place it has still gone to arbitration with a 542 group.

If there has been an amendment to the RLA or any other labor laws that would affect seniority integration I'm not aware of it. I'm not saying there is not, but if there is I would greatly appreciate a reference to it.
 
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