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ERJ135 02-22-2013 03:35 PM

APA beware!!
 
Not that it matters too much to guys at AA, I know you guys have your own problems. However, it should be noted that majority of Eagle guys will be coming over at some point. (Maybe). Just a friendly heads up for when these guys come over from the EGL MEC. These were two emails we received in the last 24 hrs. All I can say is APA Beware!! Just passing this along. Good Luck.


(Names, Email, and phone numbers "X" out for obvious reasons)

February 21, 2013

Fellow DFW pilots:

I’ve had concerns for some time about uncontrolled spending of our union dues and the lack of accountability for such spending. Prior to our special MEC meeting last week, I visited the finance department at ALPA national to review expenses submitted over the last year. ALPA encourages all members in good standing to do the same.

I discovered a pattern of spending that can only be described as disturbing. There were numerous bar tabs for large amounts expensed as “snacks.” However, rather than provide a list of each expense report, I’ll reference one example and my efforts to shed light on the report.

While reviewing expense reports, I found that Axxxxxy Gxxxxxxxz submitted an expense for a group meal on August 3, 2012, for a restaurant in Washington, D.C. Eighteen people attended with a final bill of $1,000.00. I was unable to locate a receipt for the $1,000.00 restaurant bill, but I did find a receipt for that date that totaled almost $2,100.00. I later found the meal was expensed under two different line items: $1,000.00 was coded to “group meals >5 people,” and the remaining $1,085.00 was coded to “MEC meetings.” That explains my inability to find a matching receipt to the meal expense report.

That total seemed high to me, so I pulled up the menu for the restaurant and calculated the charge for each attendee to purchase the most expensive appetizer, entrée and dessert, and one $3 drink. I also included a 15 percent gratuity and applicable taxes. The total came to over $1,500.00. That is over a $500.00 difference. I then contacted the manager of the restaurant and was told a detailed receipt was easily available. I felt that our MEC chairman should provide a detailed receipt to the MEC as an explanation of his actions.

I felt it highly probable that the balance was used to purchase alcohol. This would have been in direct violation of MEC policy. I tried to discuss this at the meeting on Tuesday because I felt it was relevant to another item on the meeting agenda. Tony refused to allow that discussion to take place and made no attempt to discuss the issue with me. I made myself available after the meeting for anyone to ask me what I had found, and one of the attendees of the group meal admitted to me that alcohol was consumed at that meal.

The next day, an ALPA executive vice president asked to speak with me privately. He said that if I made this information public, ALPA national would come down hard on the Eagle MEC. Although this is not a personal threat towards me, I felt it was an attempt to get me to drop the issue and was an indication of just how serious this matter was.

Later that day, the Eagle MEC chairman and vice chairman approached the LEC 83 chairman, Vxl Jxxxxr, and asked if he would be interested in the MEC secretary-treasurer position if they could have the current secretary-treasurer removed from office. Tony has also been pushing to remove the treasurer from the approval process. He then could have the vice chairman, Dxxe Rxxxr, approve his expenses. With this in place, what little accountability we have now would be further compromised. Deduce what you wish from these actions.

The MEC chairman will try and portray me as a trouble maker and say that what I have presented isn’t accurate and contains half truths and lies. I can assure you I have embellished nothing. He will say we need to focus on the big picture and not be distracted by petty and trivial issues.

You elected me to ensure that your interests would be represented on the MEC. I take that responsibility very seriously. Part of that responsibility is to ensure that your dues monies are used appropriately. I need some help carrying that out. Your money is being wasted on excess at a time when we are taking cuts in compensation and you are being forced to pay higher dues to ALPA. I urge you to call Tony at 6xx-xxx-xxx7 or e-mail him at [email protected] and ask him to explain the necessity of ignoring policy and abusing his position as MEC chairman. Please CC me on your e-mail inquiries. I would like to know how you respond to this.


Kxxxy Pxxl
Vice Chairman
EGL Council 83



(Today)


Fellow DFW pilots:


Yesterday, I sent out a letter to the DFW pilots concerning the out of control spending by our MEC chairman. I expected a mature and comprehensive response to the allegations but instead, the chairman chose to openly threaten my career as an airline pilot. The direct threat came in the form of a text message with a photograph attached. The photo insinuated that I was drinking while in uniform. It was taken during an MEC meeting in July 2012 at the ALPA National Headquarters in Virginia. I had just commuted in for the meeting, and the rest of the council were already having a catered dinner. In the photograph, it appears that I am drinking alcohol in uniform. The text message from TXXy GXXXXXXz said only this: “Someone sent me this, thought you should know.” This comment was clearly meant to intimidate me. Putting my career in jeopardy by circulating a photo taken out of context shows the lengths he is willing to go to in order to deflect attention away from his own actions. All this has managed to accomplish is to strengthen my resolve to ensure accountability and put an end to the excesses demonstrated by our MEC leadership.


I have yet to receive any other communication from the MEC leadership.





Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx (identity withheld)

Vice Chairman

EGL Council 83

TQ Nola 02-23-2013 07:35 AM


Originally Posted by ERJ135 (Post 1358284)
However, it should be noted that majority of Eagle guys will be coming over at some point. (Maybe).

How do you figure?

Mason32 02-23-2013 11:31 AM


Originally Posted by TQ Nola (Post 1358623)
How do you figure?

Probably because he can read.

TQ Nola 02-23-2013 12:32 PM


Originally Posted by Mason32 (Post 1358767)
Probably because he can read.


Nice snark, I like it.

The bulk hired before whatever the cutoff date was get preferential interview, not hiring. So really, how do you figure? Or are you also mistakenly equating the two things?

eaglefly 02-23-2013 12:43 PM

Really, only a little more than 1/3 can consider themselves likely to transfer to AA in the future. Perhaps 150 numbered guys and 824 through an arbitration award. The rest depend on a promise by management, so that's another 1800 pilots or so.

As for Eagle pilots problems with union cronyism, abuse and corruption, many former Eagle pilots are at AA, so I'm sure this ridiculous scene is not an unkown.

Mason32 02-23-2013 01:24 PM


Originally Posted by TQ Nola (Post 1358795)
Nice snark, I like it.

The bulk hired before whatever the cutoff date was get preferential interview, not hiring. So really, how do you figure? Or are you also mistakenly equating the two things?

Actually, if you READ (there's that word again) you'd see it says preferential hiring. The preferential interviews are the ones hired after October 11, 2011. There are 238 with numbers, 824 transfers, about 1700 preferential hires, and now anybody after 10-11-2011 gets a preferential interview.

I don't think it will get beyond the 824. Rumor is Eagle plans to withhold them from leaving at any more than 20 a month... Which means it would be decades before any of those other guys got over here.

Mason32 02-23-2013 01:26 PM


Originally Posted by eaglefly (Post 1358802)
Really, only a little more than 1/3 can consider themselves likely to transfer to AA in the future. Perhaps 150 numbered guys and 824 through an arbitration award. The rest depend on a promise by management, so that's another 1800 pilots or so.

As for Eagle pilots problems with union cronyism, abuse and corruption, many former Eagle pilots are at AA, so I'm sure this ridiculous scene is not an unkown.

The preferential hires were the result of a grievance settlement. The new thing of offering interviews to those hired after 10-11-2011 is the one that is just a management promise.

eaglefly 02-23-2013 02:25 PM


Originally Posted by Mason32 (Post 1358820)
The preferential hires were the result of a grievance settlement. The new thing of offering interviews to those hired after 10-11-2011 is the one that is just a management promise.

Really ? :eek:

Every Eagle pilot on property post 10/11/11 has a contractual right to an AA new-hire position ?

I was unaware of that.............could you post the grievance award/settlement ?

BTW, I heard earlier this week that AA street hiring will be put on hold and they only plan to go down the list to the last AA native (perhaps to start the 3 year clock ?). That will leave perhaps 150 Eagle flows with numbers (the large block group at the very bottom) out in the cold until new management sorts out the plan for AA/U and the regionals.

Just what I've heard.................

TQ Nola 02-23-2013 02:36 PM

..........

ERJ135 02-23-2013 03:04 PM

Hahaha, yeah that's why I said (Maybe).. I highly doubt many will be allowed anyway.. Winkley has already been on record as saying they cannot allow 40 per month from Eagle. Not enough staffing. That wasn't really the point. I have no doubt though our MEC and NC will be some of the first street hires at AA... Just saying..
On a side note, the group hired before 10/11/11 but, after the 824. I don't have the language but, I believe its set out so that these people will be offered a job, no interview, no pre-employment/background checks. FWIW


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