EGL Vote
Get out and vote!!!
You have to be there in person for interim reps
10/2/2013
Pilots of Council 121,
Tomorrow you will be faced with one of the most critical choices you will make since your decision to work for American Eagle.
The choice will have manifold effect on everything from the quality of your work environment here in NY to your paycheck, quality of life created by provisions in your contract as well as your standing in the industry.
It will also have a dramatic effect on this airline by how it does or does not survive the very short term or long term challenges it faces.
The ability to attract and retain new pilots will determine whether this airline survives or fails, whether we have adequate staffing to provide reasonable lines, allow for upgrades as well as staff to enable the 824/Protected Pilot programs to work as planned.
The vote tomorrow will determine my replacement for captain representative for what could be the next 60-90 days; it is also the swing vote on the Master Council. It means that whoever holds this post will be faced with critical decisions and extreme political pressure to “come over” to one side or the other. Typically the MEC splits 5-4 or 4-5 on important issues, and your choice on Thursday night will determine whether we keep this balance or whether we tilt towards continued concessions.
At our last formal LEC meeting, one of you presented your dismay at my pledge to “build unity” back into our Council as well as the MEC. That pilot alleged that I had abysmally failed to “bring the other side” to make us one fighting machine rather than a polarized group of 50%+1/50%-1 that could get “nothing done”.
The experience I have had doing Union work over the last 25 years has told me from the start that it is possible only if both sides want to work together.
The reality is that your voices were heard loud and clear and together we as New Yorkers rebuffed 3 abysmally poor TAs that were forced down our throat by the same people that claim “nothing was done”.
With that same push, we were able to mitigate the bankruptcy rape that management forced on us. We managed the 1113 down to a more manageable footprint and denigrated the extreme concessions management wanted with something slightly more reasonable – a task that could only be achieved over time – which we got by pushing back at every turn until a more reasonable deal could be achieved. To this day, I still believe we could have pushed back even more, but the MEC split 7-6 on sending the BK deal to the pilots.
This was not the “plan” from the other side; they wanted a deal the first day the 1113 was presented to the group, in fact, we were told that afternoon that if we did not sign immediately, the company would come back for a second bite and more in line with the deal being orchestrated at Pinnacle.
We were told by the ALPA professionals that we were crazy for not signing, we were told by our leadership and negotiators that we were crazy to send them back as the company would just file their 1113 and leave us in the dust worse off than we already were – yet every time they came back with a better position for our pilots.
There is a time to walk, there is a time to run and there is a time to hide, sometimes it is best to keep your powder dry. With your input, help and trust I have been able to do what I thought best for the pilots of this airline.
It is OK to have a difference of opinion; the ability to talk openly is one of the core tenets of our Founding Fathers, when you force your beliefs on others that is not a democracy, that is a dictatorship.
When you use misinformation, deceit and intimidation to force your position and will on others that is not unity, it is thug rule.
When you use misinformation, misdirection and trickery to distract others from your own inappropriate actions, that is fraud.
Our previous leadership and their minion made all of our lives a mess over the last four years starting with the “plan to win”, the great “planes for Jobs” asset swap, then a dance down “divestiture row”, the bankruptcy TA and ended with the B scale debacle which the MEC rightfully quashed but only after a battle of epic proportions stemming from our MEC officers and the negotiations committee massive push for its adoption.
Their desperation to get this B scale deal for airplanes with USAir almost cost our pilot group dearly and the impact of uncorking the genie’s bottle on our industry is just starting to unfold as PSA signs their deal and I am sure Piedmont and others will race to secure aircraft rather than accomplish a career for their pilots.
With the exception of the Bankruptcy, all these follies were the genesis of our MEC Chairman and his crew. When some balked, super posh meals and lots of alcohol flowed.
Only time will tell how much damage Txxy Gxxxxez and his crew have inflicted on not only this pilot group but also the industry as a whole.
So, you have a choice.
Do you want to have a Captain Rep that can’t be bought and sold by the National OR the Master Chairman, or do you want more of what has become the norm on our Master Council for the last 4 years?
Trust and faith in those that represent you regardless of the representative body is critical, with one of those running you get a proven self-entitled sycophant that will blindly follow. With the others you get guys who are willing to stand up for you no matter how much Cabernet they throw at them.
Many have come up to thank me; you’re thanking the wrong person. My bride Christina and my kids Andy, Isabella and Sophia are the ones you should thank; as it was their time they shared allowing me the ability to volunteer in the first place.
Thank you all for the ability to serve as your voice; it has been an honor and privilege to represent the most proactive pilots at the airline.
Thank all of you for your faith in me even when undeserved.
Thank you for your support and encouragement even when we didn’t agree.
I am and have always been your humble servant sent to fight the battles you choose. It has been a bloody and painful war and respite is the best medicine.
My job opportunity with AA has finally arrived and I will be accepting.
On October 23rd I will take a jump 16 years in the making!
Staying or going is a leap of faith, regardless, with 12 years remaining to retire at 60 – I have plenty of time to recoup and “the polyester dream” beckons me to different plains.
For 23 years we have laughed, cried and banged our collective heads against the wall trying to figure out life, our Airline and our Union - my time with you has been a blessing.
Fly safe, fly smart and most of all; get to the meeting tomorrow in LGA at 5:00 in the 3rd floor conference room, your future depends on it.
Fraternally,
PXXl VXXXte