Oberndorf for ALPA President 2014
08-31-2014, 08:04 PM
#11
Banned
Joined APC: Jul 2014
Posts: 10
HEIDE OBERNDORF for ALPA PRESIDENT
ALPA has failed at the fundamental task of effectively using pattern bargaining to enhance the careers of airline pilots. The Association has failed to defend the profession for decades now. The attitude of ALPA National over the past few decades has been that they simply provide resources to our MEC’s, which in turn, are independent decision makers and negotiators for their own airline. This has proved to be an extremely ineffective approach to pattern bargaining from the world’s largest pilots union. There are too many examples over our careers that can be used to show ALPA’s inability to follow its own policy with respect to airline unit bargaining.
During the ALPA Board of Directors meeting this October, the members of the BOD will have a clear choice in candidates for ALPA President. If elected ALPA President I can promise you that I will return true pattern bargaining to our union by “negotiating together” in conjunction with a long-term strategic view for the profession. Negotiating in isolation has only benefitted the greater agenda of management. The state of our profession is proof of this. By negotiating together we will be able to utilize all of our assets to leverage the solidarity of our union and all pilot groups to the benefit of the profession.
The current ALPA leadership and negotiating style continues to benefit management. A recent example of using isolation bargaining to benefit corporations can be seen at Envoy Airlines (previously American Eagle) negotiating fiasco where management had insisted upon concessions from the Envoy pilots. ALPA National had their appointed ALPA attorney at the table negotiating alongside the pilots. Every MEC is appointed with one or more ALPA attorneys to represent them as contract and negotiations experts. This ALPA attorney, along with the National Officers, insisted that Envoy agree to the concession-laden proposal that management had demanded. When the Envoy MEC rejected the deal and refused to entertain a B-scale and other significant concessions, management redirected airplane orders to other express carriers, and simultaneously announced the retirement of airplanes in the current fleet. The Envoy MEC and pilots showed great courage in taking a stand for the profession and received cheers of support and gratitude from pilots across the industry. But management was not finished shopping these concessions around their system.
Fast forward a few months from the Envoy contract rejection, and what you find is that the same ALPA contract attorney and negotiations expert who “helped” the Envoy pilots, is now assigned to PSA (an express carrier for US Airways and is now part of the American Eagle Group). He and the National Officers are again insisting that they accept the same sort of B-scale and concessions that the Envoy pilots just turned down.
This time around the PSA MEC agreed and sent it out for a vote and it passed by 61%. Here is what your current ALPA leadership brought to the PSA pilots at the expense of the Envoy pilots (and the profession):
· The promise of the thirty 76-seat jets.
· PSA’s pilots have agreed to limits on their Captain pay scales to the 12th year after date of hire, and limits on first-officer pay scales to the fourth year.
· The agreement also extends the existing contract for another five years, until 2023, with no interim contract amendment clauses.
· It allows for no pay raises other than cost-of-living adjustments for the duration of the contract.
· By the third year of the deal it calls for a double digit increase in medical benefit contributions that can easily wipe out whatever meager pay raises COLA’s bring.
Is this “pattern bargaining?” It certainly is, but just not the kind that any labor union should be a part of.
If you haven’t seen Captain Moak’s latest Bloomberg/BusinessWeek interview in which he assures Wall Street that “we” won’t be seeking any major improvements in our contracts any time soon; you may want to read it:
http://mobile.businessweek.com/articles/2014-08-13/airline-profits-will-drive-2015-pilot-contract-talks
“Moak contends that ALPA pilots at the larger carriers enjoy what he calls ‘mature, good contracts’ already. Radical overhauls aren’t in the cards, he says.”
I am not sure what he means by “good contracts.” Apparently he is signaling that after decades of back sliding and seeing our work rules decimated at the major airlines, we are “good” at this time. This type of pattern bargaining, a pattern of standing hand-in-hand with management, thinking like management, acting like management, and calling it “all good” after a few short yardage gains is not what I have in mind for our Association. Frankly, it is an insult to every hard working ALPA member, most of whom pay thousands of dollars per year for the services of this labor union. You have spent too many years giving away your pensions in bankruptcy, bringing home wages that allow your family to qualify for food stamps at the regional level, and being left out of the ALPA President’s one level of safety at the cargo carriers. You have lived through outsourcing, off-shoring and in-sourcing at your airline, and watched your careers devolve and stagnate for a decade or more. This is not what any of us had in mind when we aspired to be a part of the airline piloting profession.
When Captain Moak says radical overhauls are not needed, is he referring to “scoping in” where we bring mainline pay and benefits to regional-type flying? Is he referring to protections against insidious joint ventures, revenue sharing, and alliance/code sharing agreements? Is he referring to a real and substantial retirement plan at every carrier that allows a pilot to actually retire? If so, I do not find these concepts radical at all, and I do not see our current position as “good.”
Unfortunately, the UAL MEC Chairman and Candidate for ALPA President, Captain Jay Heppner, agrees with Lee Moak and other ALPA negotiators that “provisioning” is a win-win for ALPA and the A4A. I believe he and other key ALPA insiders feel that it should be part of a new way forward. Captain Heppner and his negotiators tried to introduce this latest management dream to the United Pilots during joint contract negotiations in the fall of 2012. Captain Heppner made it very clear that the concept of “provisioning” was being forwarded as a legitimate suggestion and something worthy of consideration during contract negotiations. When they brought the management proposal forward to the UAL and CAL MEC’s, it was fortunate that cooler heads prevailed – this time. The suggestion was roundly criticized and rejected by both MEC’s.
I would like to be crystal clear that “provisioning” is NOT the way forward for our profession. I talked in-depth about provisioning in a previous letter to you and have it posted on my website for your review (entitled “The RJ Debacle”). Provisioning is a “loser” proposition for our careers and the profession. It would be devastating to major airline pilots and just as bad for the long-term career prospects of regional pilots. Provisioning is little more than the latest strategy that management and their A4A trade group have devised to continue the outsourcing of our jobs. It will be a very effective method of dividing and separating ALPA into small, ineffective units with reduced leverage and disastrous consequences. I will not entertain provisioning or any other outsourcing matrix!
This October, the choice for ALPA President is clear. I am the only candidate who has proposed any amount of change to our Association. This new direction that I envision will enable ALPA to successfully function as a labor union vs. an industry trade group. For us to become effective and relevant as a union going forward, we must come together through change. The tired old rhetoric from entrenched ALPA officers is not the answer.
Please help me by visiting my website and contacting your local representatives. I have sample resolutions for you to submit, but local council meetings are winding down as we approach the October BOD meeting. If your Local Council has a meeting scheduled, please attend or ask a friend to attend and make your voice heard. Please make sure that you take the time to call and write your reps and let them know that more of the same old ALPA is not acceptable. Let them know you want them to vote for Heide Oberndorf for ALPA President.
I also want to thank you once again for all of the support that I have received via media and from so many of you in person out on the line
ALPA’s Pattern Bargaining hasn’t worked.
During the ALPA Board of Directors meeting this October, the members of the BOD will have a clear choice in candidates for ALPA President. If elected ALPA President I can promise you that I will return true pattern bargaining to our union by “negotiating together” in conjunction with a long-term strategic view for the profession. Negotiating in isolation has only benefitted the greater agenda of management. The state of our profession is proof of this. By negotiating together we will be able to utilize all of our assets to leverage the solidarity of our union and all pilot groups to the benefit of the profession.
The current ALPA leadership and negotiating style continues to benefit management. A recent example of using isolation bargaining to benefit corporations can be seen at Envoy Airlines (previously American Eagle) negotiating fiasco where management had insisted upon concessions from the Envoy pilots. ALPA National had their appointed ALPA attorney at the table negotiating alongside the pilots. Every MEC is appointed with one or more ALPA attorneys to represent them as contract and negotiations experts. This ALPA attorney, along with the National Officers, insisted that Envoy agree to the concession-laden proposal that management had demanded. When the Envoy MEC rejected the deal and refused to entertain a B-scale and other significant concessions, management redirected airplane orders to other express carriers, and simultaneously announced the retirement of airplanes in the current fleet. The Envoy MEC and pilots showed great courage in taking a stand for the profession and received cheers of support and gratitude from pilots across the industry. But management was not finished shopping these concessions around their system.
Fast forward a few months from the Envoy contract rejection, and what you find is that the same ALPA contract attorney and negotiations expert who “helped” the Envoy pilots, is now assigned to PSA (an express carrier for US Airways and is now part of the American Eagle Group). He and the National Officers are again insisting that they accept the same sort of B-scale and concessions that the Envoy pilots just turned down.
This time around the PSA MEC agreed and sent it out for a vote and it passed by 61%. Here is what your current ALPA leadership brought to the PSA pilots at the expense of the Envoy pilots (and the profession):
· The promise of the thirty 76-seat jets.
· PSA’s pilots have agreed to limits on their Captain pay scales to the 12th year after date of hire, and limits on first-officer pay scales to the fourth year.
· The agreement also extends the existing contract for another five years, until 2023, with no interim contract amendment clauses.
· It allows for no pay raises other than cost-of-living adjustments for the duration of the contract.
· By the third year of the deal it calls for a double digit increase in medical benefit contributions that can easily wipe out whatever meager pay raises COLA’s bring.
Is this “pattern bargaining?” It certainly is, but just not the kind that any labor union should be a part of.
If you haven’t seen Captain Moak’s latest Bloomberg/BusinessWeek interview in which he assures Wall Street that “we” won’t be seeking any major improvements in our contracts any time soon; you may want to read it:
http://mobile.businessweek.com/articles/2014-08-13/airline-profits-will-drive-2015-pilot-contract-talks
“Moak contends that ALPA pilots at the larger carriers enjoy what he calls ‘mature, good contracts’ already. Radical overhauls aren’t in the cards, he says.”
I am not sure what he means by “good contracts.” Apparently he is signaling that after decades of back sliding and seeing our work rules decimated at the major airlines, we are “good” at this time. This type of pattern bargaining, a pattern of standing hand-in-hand with management, thinking like management, acting like management, and calling it “all good” after a few short yardage gains is not what I have in mind for our Association. Frankly, it is an insult to every hard working ALPA member, most of whom pay thousands of dollars per year for the services of this labor union. You have spent too many years giving away your pensions in bankruptcy, bringing home wages that allow your family to qualify for food stamps at the regional level, and being left out of the ALPA President’s one level of safety at the cargo carriers. You have lived through outsourcing, off-shoring and in-sourcing at your airline, and watched your careers devolve and stagnate for a decade or more. This is not what any of us had in mind when we aspired to be a part of the airline piloting profession.
When Captain Moak says radical overhauls are not needed, is he referring to “scoping in” where we bring mainline pay and benefits to regional-type flying? Is he referring to protections against insidious joint ventures, revenue sharing, and alliance/code sharing agreements? Is he referring to a real and substantial retirement plan at every carrier that allows a pilot to actually retire? If so, I do not find these concepts radical at all, and I do not see our current position as “good.”
Unfortunately, the UAL MEC Chairman and Candidate for ALPA President, Captain Jay Heppner, agrees with Lee Moak and other ALPA negotiators that “provisioning” is a win-win for ALPA and the A4A. I believe he and other key ALPA insiders feel that it should be part of a new way forward. Captain Heppner and his negotiators tried to introduce this latest management dream to the United Pilots during joint contract negotiations in the fall of 2012. Captain Heppner made it very clear that the concept of “provisioning” was being forwarded as a legitimate suggestion and something worthy of consideration during contract negotiations. When they brought the management proposal forward to the UAL and CAL MEC’s, it was fortunate that cooler heads prevailed – this time. The suggestion was roundly criticized and rejected by both MEC’s.
I would like to be crystal clear that “provisioning” is NOT the way forward for our profession. I talked in-depth about provisioning in a previous letter to you and have it posted on my website for your review (entitled “The RJ Debacle”). Provisioning is a “loser” proposition for our careers and the profession. It would be devastating to major airline pilots and just as bad for the long-term career prospects of regional pilots. Provisioning is little more than the latest strategy that management and their A4A trade group have devised to continue the outsourcing of our jobs. It will be a very effective method of dividing and separating ALPA into small, ineffective units with reduced leverage and disastrous consequences. I will not entertain provisioning or any other outsourcing matrix!
This October, the choice for ALPA President is clear. I am the only candidate who has proposed any amount of change to our Association. This new direction that I envision will enable ALPA to successfully function as a labor union vs. an industry trade group. For us to become effective and relevant as a union going forward, we must come together through change. The tired old rhetoric from entrenched ALPA officers is not the answer.
Please help me by visiting my website and contacting your local representatives. I have sample resolutions for you to submit, but local council meetings are winding down as we approach the October BOD meeting. If your Local Council has a meeting scheduled, please attend or ask a friend to attend and make your voice heard. Please make sure that you take the time to call and write your reps and let them know that more of the same old ALPA is not acceptable. Let them know you want them to vote for Heide Oberndorf for ALPA President.
I also want to thank you once again for all of the support that I have received via media and from so many of you in person out on the line
09-01-2014, 06:01 AM
#13
Bracing for Fallacies
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: In favor of good things, not in favor of bad things
Posts: 3,543
I have been reading her emails with a fair amount of interest. There seems to be a desire to shake things up and take a new path from previous ALPA administrations. I'm surprised there hasn't been more discussion about her so far.
09-03-2014, 06:51 AM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2010
Position: Stretch DC-9 Gear Slinger
Posts: 615
The next President of Alpa will be someone who none of you will ever know is running. I am betting Tim O'Malley or someone else who is just going to run things like Moak has done for the last few years. Do not expect change.
09-28-2014, 01:34 PM
#15
Banned
Joined APC: Jul 2014
Posts: 10
Leadership and Experience
My fellow pilots, it’s time for REAL leadership in ALPA. If an MEC or ALPA National officer position is the only qualifier for the necessary leadership experience to be elected ALPA President, then I think we need to ask ourselves some fundamental questions. First of all, how’s that been working for you so far?
Leadership and credibility are learned through experience and judged by those who are led. I am the only announced candidate that possesses the skills and leadership vision necessary to affect real change in the way we do business. I have laid out an entire platform and have told you how we’re going to do this, and you have heard next to nothing from the other candidates during this campaign. I unapologetically dismiss the notion that an MEC Chairmanship or ALPA National Executive position gives any credence to leadership ability when the proof of that is not visible. We have too many examples that tell us the exact opposite is true.
Unlike the other candidates for President, I am 44 years old, so after serving as long as I can make a difference, I will return to the line to live with the results of all the actions that I took as ALPA President. Accountability is something that many members of our union think is lacking, and I’ve promised to work hard to make some common sense changes to allow needed checks and balances in order to make this a true bottom up organization.
The United Pilots have benefited from my leadership for years and I’ve done union work at a previous ALPA carrier as well. In 2007, I knew that United Airlines was looking to acquire route authority to Beijing, and while I was fairly new at United I was confident that I could help our company achieve this. Working closely with my father, who was on the Virginia State Board of Aviation and well connected in Washington D.C., I was able to help secure the route authority for United.
More recently, the largest merger in ALPA’s history might still be in serious disarray were it not for the leadership that my team and I provided on Capitol Hill. Let me be absolutely clear: I do not purport to have negotiated the JCBA for the CAL/UAL pilots – that accomplishment falls to Captains Heppner and Pierce, the Joint Negotiating Committee and the NMB, and it should be judged accordingly. What I did accomplish as the UAL MEC Legislative Chairman, was that I put together a team which developed and executed a plan to close the door on the NMB’s, and our management’s, infinite timeline for negotiating. I secured some of DC’s top advisors and lobbyists to bring these negotiations to an end. I also lined up one of our country’s premier marketing firms to help with the effort. We were very successful, and in the end we busted the log jam wide open and pushed the process forward in ways that ALPA currently cannot, or will not.
Additionally, as the UAL MEC Legislative Chairman, my team and I worked extremely hard on the Secondary Barrier Project with Ellen Saracini (Widow of Victor Saracini, UAL Flight 175 September 11). Under my leadership, and working closely with Ellen, we were able to get two separate bills submitted to Congress:
My experience has given me the insight and necessary vision to make ALPA great again. I have flown for United Airlines for 18 years. Prior to UAL, I was at TWA, Trans States and flew cargo for Murray Aviation. I have been an ALPA volunteer for 20 years on Council Legislative Committees, Grievance Committees, an MEC Grievance Review Board, and the Chairman of the UAL MEC Legislative Committee. I am the only candidate who has the vision and fortitude to get ALPA back to representing the professional airline pilot career.
If you read just the first 10 pages of Flying the Line (it is on my website), you will learn what I and a few others understand: effective representation from ALPA is contingent upon our ability to partner with all union and pilot advocates, but most importantly it is predicated on our National Legislative agenda. This is what ALPA was founded on.
David Behncke knew that the only way he was going to secure rights and protections for the pilots was through a lot of tireless work on Capitol Hill, using a strong legislative agenda. In 1935 the Air Transport Association was created specifically to lobby against labor protections demanded by airline pilots. Regardless of managements banding together against ALPA, the “Pilots’ Amendment” to the Railway Labor Act was created and enacted in 1936.
Unfortunately, after decades of failing to learn the lessons Behncke and others clearly taught us; and after repeatedly failing to beat the ATA (renamed Airlines for America/A4A in 2011) at their game, ALPA‘s current leadership has decided that if you can’t beat ‘em, JOIN EM! Our current “union leadership” has climbed straight into bed with the A4A and is trying to tell us that this is the true path of union leadership in the modern age – walking hand in hand with management.
I fundamentally disagree with this concept. Behncke stood strong then, and we can now. The only way we can survive and stop the outsourcing, revenue sharing, “provisioning” plans and whipsawing, is to draw a line in the sand and say NO MORE.
I understand how to get things done on Capitol Hill and, equally as important, when to get things done on Capitol Hill. My experience runs deep in union work and politics, and I have developed contacts in the U.S. Government who are willing to help when we need the help. Additionally, I have worked with high-level politicians in the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives and the White House. These people understand our issues and would be considered valuable assets in our fight.
I am ready to lead our Association in a new direction, one that puts union representation as priority number one at ALPA.
To the ALPA BOD Membership: Thank you once again for all of the support that I have received from so many of you in person and otherwise. I’m attending as many local council meetings and MEC meetings as I can in an effort to personally meet you and address your concerns and questions. If you have a function scheduled prior to the BOD meeting and would like me to attend, please let me know.
To the rank & file members of ALPA: Thank you once again for all of the support and encouragement you have given me! Your local officers need to hear from you regarding this election so please do take a moment to contact them and tell them that you support me.
http://www.oberndorfforpresident.org/
Fraternally,
Heide Oberndorf
415-595-7507
My fellow pilots, it’s time for REAL leadership in ALPA. If an MEC or ALPA National officer position is the only qualifier for the necessary leadership experience to be elected ALPA President, then I think we need to ask ourselves some fundamental questions. First of all, how’s that been working for you so far?
Leadership and credibility are learned through experience and judged by those who are led. I am the only announced candidate that possesses the skills and leadership vision necessary to affect real change in the way we do business. I have laid out an entire platform and have told you how we’re going to do this, and you have heard next to nothing from the other candidates during this campaign. I unapologetically dismiss the notion that an MEC Chairmanship or ALPA National Executive position gives any credence to leadership ability when the proof of that is not visible. We have too many examples that tell us the exact opposite is true.
Unlike the other candidates for President, I am 44 years old, so after serving as long as I can make a difference, I will return to the line to live with the results of all the actions that I took as ALPA President. Accountability is something that many members of our union think is lacking, and I’ve promised to work hard to make some common sense changes to allow needed checks and balances in order to make this a true bottom up organization.
The United Pilots have benefited from my leadership for years and I’ve done union work at a previous ALPA carrier as well. In 2007, I knew that United Airlines was looking to acquire route authority to Beijing, and while I was fairly new at United I was confident that I could help our company achieve this. Working closely with my father, who was on the Virginia State Board of Aviation and well connected in Washington D.C., I was able to help secure the route authority for United.
More recently, the largest merger in ALPA’s history might still be in serious disarray were it not for the leadership that my team and I provided on Capitol Hill. Let me be absolutely clear: I do not purport to have negotiated the JCBA for the CAL/UAL pilots – that accomplishment falls to Captains Heppner and Pierce, the Joint Negotiating Committee and the NMB, and it should be judged accordingly. What I did accomplish as the UAL MEC Legislative Chairman, was that I put together a team which developed and executed a plan to close the door on the NMB’s, and our management’s, infinite timeline for negotiating. I secured some of DC’s top advisors and lobbyists to bring these negotiations to an end. I also lined up one of our country’s premier marketing firms to help with the effort. We were very successful, and in the end we busted the log jam wide open and pushed the process forward in ways that ALPA currently cannot, or will not.
Additionally, as the UAL MEC Legislative Chairman, my team and I worked extremely hard on the Secondary Barrier Project with Ellen Saracini (Widow of Victor Saracini, UAL Flight 175 September 11). Under my leadership, and working closely with Ellen, we were able to get two separate bills submitted to Congress:
- H.R. 1775: Saracini Aviation Safety Act of 2013 - Introduced April 26th, 2013
- S. 1495: Saracini Aviation Safety Act of 2013 - Introduced September 11, 2013
My experience has given me the insight and necessary vision to make ALPA great again. I have flown for United Airlines for 18 years. Prior to UAL, I was at TWA, Trans States and flew cargo for Murray Aviation. I have been an ALPA volunteer for 20 years on Council Legislative Committees, Grievance Committees, an MEC Grievance Review Board, and the Chairman of the UAL MEC Legislative Committee. I am the only candidate who has the vision and fortitude to get ALPA back to representing the professional airline pilot career.
If you read just the first 10 pages of Flying the Line (it is on my website), you will learn what I and a few others understand: effective representation from ALPA is contingent upon our ability to partner with all union and pilot advocates, but most importantly it is predicated on our National Legislative agenda. This is what ALPA was founded on.
David Behncke knew that the only way he was going to secure rights and protections for the pilots was through a lot of tireless work on Capitol Hill, using a strong legislative agenda. In 1935 the Air Transport Association was created specifically to lobby against labor protections demanded by airline pilots. Regardless of managements banding together against ALPA, the “Pilots’ Amendment” to the Railway Labor Act was created and enacted in 1936.
Unfortunately, after decades of failing to learn the lessons Behncke and others clearly taught us; and after repeatedly failing to beat the ATA (renamed Airlines for America/A4A in 2011) at their game, ALPA‘s current leadership has decided that if you can’t beat ‘em, JOIN EM! Our current “union leadership” has climbed straight into bed with the A4A and is trying to tell us that this is the true path of union leadership in the modern age – walking hand in hand with management.
I fundamentally disagree with this concept. Behncke stood strong then, and we can now. The only way we can survive and stop the outsourcing, revenue sharing, “provisioning” plans and whipsawing, is to draw a line in the sand and say NO MORE.
I understand how to get things done on Capitol Hill and, equally as important, when to get things done on Capitol Hill. My experience runs deep in union work and politics, and I have developed contacts in the U.S. Government who are willing to help when we need the help. Additionally, I have worked with high-level politicians in the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives and the White House. These people understand our issues and would be considered valuable assets in our fight.
I am ready to lead our Association in a new direction, one that puts union representation as priority number one at ALPA.
To the ALPA BOD Membership: Thank you once again for all of the support that I have received from so many of you in person and otherwise. I’m attending as many local council meetings and MEC meetings as I can in an effort to personally meet you and address your concerns and questions. If you have a function scheduled prior to the BOD meeting and would like me to attend, please let me know.
To the rank & file members of ALPA: Thank you once again for all of the support and encouragement you have given me! Your local officers need to hear from you regarding this election so please do take a moment to contact them and tell them that you support me.
http://www.oberndorfforpresident.org/
Fraternally,
Heide Oberndorf
415-595-7507
10-27-2014, 05:56 PM
#16
Banned
Joined APC: Jul 2014
Posts: 10
Dear Members of ALPA:
Tomorrow the Board of Directors will be voting in the National President. This has been a historic campaign, an exciting campaign but most importantly it’s been YOUR campaign. I’ve been working very hard these last days in Florida to gain the support needed to become the next ALPA President.
When I’m elected President tomorrow, I will immediately put together a coalition of BOD members that includes one member from each airline. Together we will determine the state of our union, where we’re headed, and how we’ll set the course for our future. We all know that ALPA must change the way we do business if we’re going to be an effective representational association in protecting our careers going forward in the 21st century. This is the first time in ALPA’s history that we have a real chance at making these changes happen.
Using experience and history as a barometer, it should be clear to you that the other two candidates in this race will do NOTHING to change the way we do business going forward. In fact, Tim Canoll (Lee Moak’s Executive Assistant) has been stating that if he’s elected he will do nothing different to change the way we do business at ALPA. He has stated this unequivocally at various MEC’s during the last week and just two days ago at the Presidential debate with 300 members in attendance. If you fancy a more cozy relationship with management and the A4A, then I am not the candidate for you. On the other hand, if you want real results for pilots and an impressive rate of return on legislative issues, I am the only one in this race who can deliver!
When I was tasked with leveraging our rights under the RLA to move our stalled negotiations to the forefront, I simply “got it done.” United Pilots were 9 years into a bankruptcy contract and the Continental Pilots were more than 2 years past the amendable date of their concessionary contract. Once in place on Capitol Hill, my team and I had ALPA’s largest pilot group a contract in eight months!
I need your help one last time. Please call or email your reps right now, today! They need to hear from you and know that you’re in favor of real change. Tell them you’re ready to shut the door on the status quo! Tell them to vote for me, Heide Oberndorf, for ALPA President. Together, we can make a difference.
Fraternally,
Heide Oberndorf
Tomorrow the Board of Directors will be voting in the National President. This has been a historic campaign, an exciting campaign but most importantly it’s been YOUR campaign. I’ve been working very hard these last days in Florida to gain the support needed to become the next ALPA President.
When I’m elected President tomorrow, I will immediately put together a coalition of BOD members that includes one member from each airline. Together we will determine the state of our union, where we’re headed, and how we’ll set the course for our future. We all know that ALPA must change the way we do business if we’re going to be an effective representational association in protecting our careers going forward in the 21st century. This is the first time in ALPA’s history that we have a real chance at making these changes happen.
Using experience and history as a barometer, it should be clear to you that the other two candidates in this race will do NOTHING to change the way we do business going forward. In fact, Tim Canoll (Lee Moak’s Executive Assistant) has been stating that if he’s elected he will do nothing different to change the way we do business at ALPA. He has stated this unequivocally at various MEC’s during the last week and just two days ago at the Presidential debate with 300 members in attendance. If you fancy a more cozy relationship with management and the A4A, then I am not the candidate for you. On the other hand, if you want real results for pilots and an impressive rate of return on legislative issues, I am the only one in this race who can deliver!
When I was tasked with leveraging our rights under the RLA to move our stalled negotiations to the forefront, I simply “got it done.” United Pilots were 9 years into a bankruptcy contract and the Continental Pilots were more than 2 years past the amendable date of their concessionary contract. Once in place on Capitol Hill, my team and I had ALPA’s largest pilot group a contract in eight months!
I need your help one last time. Please call or email your reps right now, today! They need to hear from you and know that you’re in favor of real change. Tell them you’re ready to shut the door on the status quo! Tell them to vote for me, Heide Oberndorf, for ALPA President. Together, we can make a difference.
Fraternally,
Heide Oberndorf
10-27-2014, 05:58 PM
#17
Banned
Joined APC: Jul 2014
Posts: 10
Parting Shot for Heide Oberndorf
The users email-address has been added to the addressbook
This is an email targeted to go out tomorrow to the members of ALPA. I cannot thank you all enough - WE DID MAKE A DIFFERENCE, DO NOT HANG YOUR HEADS LOW! Heide
__________________________________________________ _
HEIDE OBERNDORF FOR ALPA PRESIDENT 2014
Dear ALPA Members,
I want to thank you all for your support in this important election for ALPA President. We all know that I faced an uphill battle against daunting odds, but a lack of trying to achieve the impossible is no better than a lack of imagining the possible.
I want you to know that on the eve of the election I had widespread support which seemed to diminish by election morning. You should, however, not be disappointed in the effort we laid down at the BOD. Given the system we have in place today, there is fear and disillusions that make it very difficult to break through barriers regarding what is actually possible. We changed history these past months, and we won the philosophical fight for the members of ALPA. The simple fact is that ALL of us came away winners after my campaign for ALPA President. You, the line pilot of ALPA, should be proud of that because it was your feedback to your reps that allowed our message to resonate. I am confident that had you been able to individually vote, I could quite possibly be the President of ALPA today. I believe your representatives know this as well.
After the results of the first round of balloting were announced, I released my votes back to the BOD members to allow them to best select a President to meet their needs going forward without any deal-making or horse trading. I stayed true to you and my campaign by allowing this to be a member driven process by running an honest platform for reform, even throughout this election. I informed both the Canoll and Heppner campaigns who they needed to talk to in order to solicit the votes that had been mine and I allowed the current process to determine the outcome. When I released my votes and withdrew, the ALPA BOD gave our campaign a standing ovation. It seemed every BOD member came over to me, not only to congratulate our efforts, but also to encourage the continuance of our goals.
Do not forget, or ever give up trying to improve the ALPA we have right in front of us. Change from within is possible, but only if the membership is willing to demand those changes. Do not let my campaign - YOUR campaign - die on the vine, because apathy will only lead to the dismantling of our careers.
Thank you!
Fraternally,
Heide Oberndorf
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This is an email targeted to go out tomorrow to the members of ALPA. I cannot thank you all enough - WE DID MAKE A DIFFERENCE, DO NOT HANG YOUR HEADS LOW! Heide
__________________________________________________ _
HEIDE OBERNDORF FOR ALPA PRESIDENT 2014
Dear ALPA Members,
I want to thank you all for your support in this important election for ALPA President. We all know that I faced an uphill battle against daunting odds, but a lack of trying to achieve the impossible is no better than a lack of imagining the possible.
I want you to know that on the eve of the election I had widespread support which seemed to diminish by election morning. You should, however, not be disappointed in the effort we laid down at the BOD. Given the system we have in place today, there is fear and disillusions that make it very difficult to break through barriers regarding what is actually possible. We changed history these past months, and we won the philosophical fight for the members of ALPA. The simple fact is that ALL of us came away winners after my campaign for ALPA President. You, the line pilot of ALPA, should be proud of that because it was your feedback to your reps that allowed our message to resonate. I am confident that had you been able to individually vote, I could quite possibly be the President of ALPA today. I believe your representatives know this as well.
After the results of the first round of balloting were announced, I released my votes back to the BOD members to allow them to best select a President to meet their needs going forward without any deal-making or horse trading. I stayed true to you and my campaign by allowing this to be a member driven process by running an honest platform for reform, even throughout this election. I informed both the Canoll and Heppner campaigns who they needed to talk to in order to solicit the votes that had been mine and I allowed the current process to determine the outcome. When I released my votes and withdrew, the ALPA BOD gave our campaign a standing ovation. It seemed every BOD member came over to me, not only to congratulate our efforts, but also to encourage the continuance of our goals.
Do not forget, or ever give up trying to improve the ALPA we have right in front of us. Change from within is possible, but only if the membership is willing to demand those changes. Do not let my campaign - YOUR campaign - die on the vine, because apathy will only lead to the dismantling of our careers.
Thank you!
Fraternally,
Heide Oberndorf
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