TonyC

Thanks, Los. That's correct. The Seniority Block 5 Rep is beginning his service as LEC Vice-Chairman, and is stepping aside for the remainder of the Block 5 Rep term. Because of the length of the term remaining, an Interim Block Rep will be nominated and elected at the Tuesday morning meeting at the ALPA FedEx office.

My record on APC speaks for itself as far as my opinions on many of the issues. More important than my personal opinion on any issue, though, is my commitment to serve the interest of the members of the Block. It begins with being as informed on the issues as possible, communicating with the members, and representing them in the MEC process. By communicating, I mean transmitting and receiving. I'll do my best to make sure members are informed, and I'll do my best to listen to what the members have to say. I won't be calling everyone personally to solicit your opinions, but if you write, I'll read, and if you call, I'll listen. Ultimately, I'm committed to ensuring that the desires and intersts of Block 5 members are represented effectively.


I strongly believe that we should have the best people available in all of our service positions. We need the best guy as our Negotiating Committee Chairman, and that's who I'll vote for. We need the best guy as our Scheduling Committee Chairman, and that's who I'll vote for. We need the best guys available to serve as Block Reps, and if someone better than me shows up at the meeting, I'll vote for them. We need the best people possible to serve as MEC Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Secretary-Treasurer -- I'll vote for the best candidate that will serve.


We've got important work ahead of us. Our job is to represent each and every pilot, and to defend our profession. Nobody else will defend the pilot. Nobody else will represent the pilot. Nobody else will be the advocate of the pilot. If we're to do that job well, we have to work together, in a business-like fashion. If we are attacking each other and fighting amongst ourselves, The Company won't have to lift a finger to defeat us. Right now The Company wants to open FDAs in HKG and CDG, and they want to pay a few hundred pilots just enough to entice them to stay there for 2 years. We, on the other hand, want 3,000 square feet of living space, an SUV and a Sportscar with 2 drivers, paid tuition for all the kids in private school, 6 roundtrip tickets for the family to the US each year, a maid, a butler, and a cook, a fridge perpetually stocked with the finest beer and wine, and a Cost of Living Allowance to cover the extra expense of eating out 6 nights a week. The deal we get will lie somewhere in between those extremes, but the more unified, professional, and business-like we are, the better the chances are of tipping the scales in our direction. For every pilot that will take the plunge, 14 more will get to vote on the LOA. What kind of a deal do you expect we'll get if we're trying to decertify our union or cut off its head? The success of our last Contract was a result of the business-like fashion in which we conducted ourselves. Contrast that with every previous attempt to negotiate a fair contract where we allowed emotions to take charge -- we were beaten each and every time. We know what it takes to be successful, and we can't afford to go back to the same methods where we defeated ourselves.


It's going to be hard work, and I'm committed to do whatever it takes to make sure the members of Block 5 get the representation we deserve.

When our Seniority Numbers are updated next month and the Seniority Blocks realigned, I will still be in Block 5, and I intend to run for the "regular" Block 5 Rep full term that begins March 1, 2008. Being the Interim Rep now will bring the added advantage of continuity, as it will take some time for a new Rep to get "spun up," so to speak. We could make this Interim term a "lame duck" session or a single-issue term, but I think that would be a disservice to the members. We need someone who is in it for the long haul, someone with a desire to have a positive affect on our quality of life. The FDA LOA is just the first important issue that needs to be dealt with -- there will be more.


If you're eligible to participate, you should have already received a postcard and an e-mail. If you're Memphis based, not an Instructor/LCA/SCA/etc., with a seniority number between 550 and 1153, you're in Block 2. Seniority numbers 2324 to 2826 are Block 5, and Seniority numbers 3319 through 3862 are Block 7. Votes must be in person (no Proxy, no electronic, no mail-ins) at the LEC Meeting Tuesday at 1000 at the ALPA FedEx office at 1770 Kirby Pkwy(at Poplar Ave.). If you can't be there, but you know someone who can be, please give them a call or send them an e-mail. If you want a Representative committed to making the process work for you, I'd appreciate your vote.




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