Airline Pilot Central Forums - View Single Post

05-21-2008 | 09:55 AM

#6

cactiboss

Banned

Joined: Apr 2008

Posts: 3,240

Likes: 0

AWAPPA Update - May 20, 2008

NewsletterIssue #11

May 20, 2008

in this issue

:: USAPA Threatens to Sue US Airways Pilots

:: The USAPA Olive Branch
:: Leonidas LLC Update

USAPA THREATENS TO SUE US AIRWAYS PILOTS
A union that sues the very workers it represents?
USAPA ratcheted up the paranoia scale a few notches by threatening to sue the very pilots it is charged with representing. Claiming that some pilots have engaged in "unlawful acts of sabotage," USAPA's lawyer sent a letter to AWAPPA's lawyer threatening that "to the extent that AWAPPA is promoting, or facilitating [unlawful acts of sabotage], USAPA will hold it accountable." Some of the "unlawful acts of sabotage" USAPA claims that AWAPPA is responsible for includes tying up USAPA's toll free telephone line with repeated frivolous calls, calling in false safety complaints to USAPA's safety line, threatening pilots if they pay dues to USAPA, falsely attributing defamatory statements to USAPA officers and arranging subscriptions to various electronic services for USAPA officers. Our lawyer quickly responded, making it clear that AWAPPA had nothing whatsoever to do with any of the conduct USAPA claimed had occurred. Not satisfied with threatening AWAPPA, USAPA's Board of Pilot Representatives recently authorized its lawyers to take legal action against any pilot who engages in "unlawful acts of sabotage." Shortly thereafter, we have learned, USAPA's lawyers sent a letter to a West pilot threatening to sue him or have him criminally prosecuted over what the lawyer claimed were repeated harassing telephone calls.

We want to be clear about two things. First, AWAPPA does not condone unlawful activity of any kind directed against anybody - including USAPA or its officers. We are committed to a course of action in which we will vindicate our rights through application of the rule of law, not through "unlawful acts of sabotage." We are confident that USAPA will crumble under its own weight without anyone engaging in unlawful conduct. Second, and more importantly, AWAPPA does not believe any union that threatens the very workers it purports to represent can succeed in representing everyone equally and fairly. As we learn of USAPA's failures to fairly represent any pilots (East or West), we will bring those failures to your attention.

THE USAPA OLIVE BRANCH
Why does USAPA so desperately seek West support?
Ever since USAPA's victory on April 17th, the USAPA leadership has attempted to scale back the anti-West rhetoric, and replace it with a more conciliatory tone.

Why the sudden change of heart?

There are two primary issues to consider when answering that question. First, USAPA's actions are not consistent with their verbal assertions. We'll discuss some of those actions in the next paragraph. Second, USAPA's motives have not actually changed, only the method by which they intend to achieve their goals. This means that USAPA still intends to attempt to impose date of hire on us (USAPA's Board passed a resolution directing their newly appointed merger committee consisting of all East pilots to compile a seniority list with "appropriate conditions and restrictions") and engage in other discriminatory practices. But now they apparently believe that they can best accomplish those goals with a less antagonistic approach, and would actually prefer to attempt to accomplish their goals with the cooperative involvement of some West pilots in the process.

Although we do not believe any America West pilot has been persuaded by USAPA's disingenuous interest in unity with the West, we thought it might be valuable to highlight some of USAPA's actions since having been certified as our bargaining agent:

As stated above, USAPA has threatened to press criminal and civil litigation against at least one America West pilot and also against AWAPPA. And to think that USAPA claimed that ALPA's acts were draconian! We're not aware of any history of ALPA ever threatening its own constituents with criminal or civil litigation. We're not sure what exactly caused USAPA to initiate this "panic fire", unless of course the West pilots' staunch opposition to USAPA is not as insignificant as USAPA portrays it publicly.

USAPA CLT representatives dedicated the majority of their first domicile blast email update to slinging mud at West pilots and AWAPPA. They even went so far as to publish the name and email address of a West pilot with the obvious intent of encouraging other pilots to create a hostile work environment for that pilot. We thought that the CLT pilots might have been more interested in having their first blast email update contain information about what progress USAPA has made in contract negotiations or other important representational matters. The email update also includes a partial excerpt taken out of context from one of our recent updates and a poorly-written "myth busters" piece that feebly attempts to rationalize USAPA's attempt to unilaterally impose an East-windfall seniority list upon us. Interestingly enough, that CLT update is no longer posted on the USAPA website.

One of the actions taken by the USAPA Board of Pilot Representative (BPR) in their first meeting this week was to attempt to solidify their ability to collect dues income from pilots, and memorialize those actions in a very threatening resolution and letter. As we may all remember, when we went to work for our first ALPA carrier, we were given an in-person presentation about the organization, and a packet of materials that included an introductory letter from the ALPA President, informational brochures about the organization, a thorough explanation of how our dues dollars were to be allocated, and other materials designed to make new members feel welcome in and informed about the union. According to USAPA's communications, our introductory packet from USAPA will only contain: a dues invoice and a letter that threatens us if we don't pay it. USAPA wants your money (possibly 2.95% of your income according to our sources), with no questions asked, and with them providing nothing in return. At least ALPA membership included a magazine subscription.

USAPA leadership has contacted a few America West pilots in an effort to convince them to serve as USAPA representatives. All of those pilots refused, stating their inability to pledge allegiance to "date of hire". The USAPA leadership went so far in one case as to tell a West pilot that USAPA could not function properly without the West being involved, and as a result of that, they were considering amending the USAPA Constitution to remove "date of hire". Most recently, the USAPA BPR unanimously passed a resolution in favor of aggressively seeking representatives to fill West positions. Mind you, this is the same BPR who's largest domicile just sent out an update that intentionally badmouths West pilots, and who refuses to let West pilots represent West pilots in disciplinary hearings without USAPA supervision. Additionally, any and all West representation that USAPA is offering is in the form of "liason" positions; i.e. positions that permit involvement but that do not grant requisite control of West contract provisions to West pilots.

Never forget - only USAPA's methods have changed, not their motives.

Reply

0