APA corruption
I found this on the other forum web site (hey, I'm just the messenger boy....ENJOY THE RIDE!):
$3,629.56! What could you do with three thousand six hundred twenty-nine dollars and fifty-six cents? Well, nine Reps at the Allied Pilots Association, better known as the APA to those of us that pay for the "privilege" of having our dues taken from our paychecks, spent $3,629 dollars of our dues money celebrating at a dinner.
Let me say that again. 9 APA Reps spent $3,629 on one dinner and you paid for it. In case the math escapes you at the moment, that is over $400 per person! This was just for food and beverages and a tip.
What was the dinner for, you might ask? They were celebrating the passing of the contract. Can you imagine how much they would have spent had they actually gotten an industry leading contract instead of a concessionary contract?
I can understand if they celebrated getting profit sharing, or perhaps a commitment to keeping our health care or even getting parity with Delta plus 1%. But these "Gentlemen" (and I use the word with all the sarcasm I can put in that word) spent three thousand six hundred dollars of our money to celebrate a concessionary contract!
In fact, the Boston Rep, Steve Bacon in a letter to his pilots had the affront to name other past excursions into a "never land" of money spending extravaganzas as an excuse to spend your money with abandon! Then he damned all that would question his extravagance at your expense. Of course, he is not running for re-election. They just don't get it. It's NOT their money. It's OUR money.
Let me make one thing perfectly clear before I name these "Representatives" in name only. Not one of the Reps from either Charlotte or Philadelphia participated nor would they. They are as outraged about this as we are.
Here are the Reps of shame and their bases:
BOSTON:
Jim Dillard (not running for re-election)
Steve Bacon (not running for re-election)
CHICAGO:
Scott Abbot
Todd Hooper (running for re-election)
LOS ANGELES:
Steve Roach (running for re-election)
Bill Boyd (running for re-election)
ST LOUIS:
Rob Powell
Marc Speigle
La Guardia:
Bill Gary
As far as I'm concerned, they show the pilots here a complete lack of respect by spending our money without our permission. A few are running for re-election. The pilots at those bases should remember this incident and how little respect they had for their pilots and vote accordingly.
As for all nine, they need to resign as Reps. After this incident became public, they each kicked in $150, but only after they got caught and it became public and were shamed. This dinner wasn't just a mistake or an oversight. This was a deliberate attempt to live very lavishly at our expense and damn the pilots they represent. They seem to forget they are pilots first and owe us that. If they had any integrity, they should pay the entire bill.
The following is a copy of the actual restaurant receipt:
CACHAREL
2221 E. Lamar Blvd #910
Arlington, Tx 76006
(817) 640-9981
Check#: 45929 Guests: 0
Date: 01/30/15 Time: 05:44 pm
Terminal: 99 Table: 12
You have been served by --> Chris
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
--(Seat 1) -----------------------------------------------------
5 Guinness $32.50
1 Crown Royal $10.00
3 Sam Adams Lager $19.50
4 Btl Jordan $480.00
1 Btl Bonsard $99.00
4 Jumbo Shrimp Cocktails $54.00
9 Hors d oeuvres $166.50
3 Salvenie 12yrs $42.00
2 Btl Stags Leap $240.00
1 Btl Caymus $169.00
1 Btl Opus One $299.00
1 Btl PHELPS INSIGNIA $349.00
--(Seat 2)------------------------------------------------------
1 Side Bernaise Sauce $4.50
1 Side Blue Cheese $14.25
1 Creamed Spinach $8.50
2 Side Roasted Garlic $17.00
1 Side Asparagus W/Mol $9.50
1 Sauteed Mushroom Ca $8.50
2 Side Baked Potato $17.00
3 Side Au Gratin $28.50
1 Side French Green Bean $8.50
--Seat 3)-------------------------------------------------------
3 Bf Stk Tomato Salad $28.50
1 Scallops $33.50
3 8oz Filet Mignon $104.25
3 13oz Kobe NYStrip $223.50
1 Lobster Tail $68.50
2 Petite/Herb Lobster $90.00
1 Watercress $10.50
1 Ice Cream $9.50
1 Banana Souffle $9.50
1 Chocolate Souffle $9.50
1 Cheese Cake $9.50
2 Grand Marnier $24.00
1 Baileys $10.00
2 Remy Martin VSOP $30.00
4 Cappucino $19.00
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal: $2, 788.50
FOOD TAX: $78.76
Mixed Bev Tax: $148.83
Sub W/Tax: $3, 016.09
Gratuity: $613.47
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Visa $3,629.56
Thank you!!
Visit our Banquet Rooms!
Each Rep signed the back of the check to acknowledge that they were there and for APA to pay the bill.
Let's set aside for the moment that this was stealing from the pilots. Here is also why this is important and this why it will affect us in the future. The day is fast approaching when no one will be required to pay dues to a union. Extravaganzas like this is why pilots will opt out of the union. After all, why would I pay dues so someone that claims he represents me pays $400 for a dinner on my dime and than attempts to hide it?
This is what killed ALPA for us and will kill the APA in the future as it is killing unions in states that already have "right to work" laws. These Reps, represent the very worst in unionism and why unions have lost their place in America. The leaders of these unions forget who they are, where they come from and who they represent. But we have not forgotten.
There needs to be accountability and before this behavior continues, we should insist this will never happen again. It may have been business as usual at the Old APA, but we US Airways Pilots now have a stake in what happens here and so do the American Legacy pilots at the bases these men pretend to represent. Pass the word.
On another issue, I have also been asked about the law suit the Army of Leonidas (has an army ever been mis-named) filed against each of the officers and reps of USAPA past and present. First of all, this is a ploy to get more money from their pilots. They need to show they are doing something....anything to collect money. It's no secret they are short funded and they are trying to gin up more support.
In addition, their attorneys are continuing to accumulate billable hours. Cha-ching!
You can't sue representatives of a union for voting! They represent the views of the people that have elected them, just like the West Reps did. Notice they were not sued. In spite of the warnings from Chip Munn and others that the sky is once again falling on USAPA and they had better acquiesce immediately or suffer unbearable torture, their latest attempt will go the way all the others have....no where.
The beat goes on.......
Bill Glynn