Throw Bradford out on his A$$
12-29-2013, 07:52 AM
#1
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2007
Posts: 1,353
Throw Bradford out on his A$$
This is one of the main reasons why i voted to recall the bunch. Bradford is a LOW LIFE with zero morals and zero integrity. Beg for an arbitration, refuse to negotiate anything other than DOH, get the award and refuse to honor it. Now begging for that same hardline bunch to keep you in office for the few short months usapa has left in an attempt to ***** over the west pilots once more. (moderator redacted potty mouth)Fellow Pilots
In late May of 2007, after the disastrous decision known as the Nicolau Award was delivered under the dark cloud of ALPA, I embarked on what many saw as a “fools errand.” Together with some volunteers, I would attempt to organize a rag-tag group of pilots in an effort to remove the largest pilot union in the world from this property. It was, and remains a true “David vs. Goliath” undertaking.
The Nicolau Award represented the “last straw” in our relationship with our former Bargaining Agent. We had just survived two bankruptcies through which the management of the company had changed several times. Because we were the first through the Chapter 11 mill, we suffered doubly as we witnessed ALPA doing a much better job with the carriers of subsequent Bankruptcies. Even after assurances from the ALPA MEC that our pensions would be frozen and spared, we still ended up being the only airline to totally lose our retirement. No other airline in history has endured the massive sacrifices that US Airways pilots did under an ALPA negotiated LOA93. Needless to say, I lost all faith in ALPA.
Apparently many of you felt the same way, as you tirelessly volunteered to help pursue the quest for independence. We had virtually no startup capital, but as if by a miracle, the donations started rolling in. We found support at every turn and against all odds in April of 2008, you voted yes to USAPA as the new collective bargaining agent for pilots of US Airways. USAPA was born.
Because I believed you should have the right to elect the first president for your new union, I stepped down after one year. That democratic election occurred and a new leadership was seated. Unfortunately like many new businesses, the fledgling organization soon veered badly off track. Things were in our own hands and they were not looking so good.
For several years of failure at the bargaining table, getting parked by the NMB, hundreds of outstanding grievances, culminating with a permanent injunction that ended up being labeled an illegal job action, it was clear that USAPA was of track, spinning it’s wheels, and mired in the mud stuck up to the axels... with no relief in sight.
I felt a strong obligation to help the union that I had worked so hard to create. So I decided to jump back in the game. A team was assembled where I ran for the office of Vice President along with Presidential candidate Gary Hummel, Executive Vice President candidate Steve Smyser, and Secretary Treasurer candidate Rob Streble. Our goal was to lead an effort to return our union and careers back to the path of success.
Our campaign was direct, truthful, and open-minded. The election was successful and you voted to change USAPA.
On the very first day we took office, we learned that US Airways Management was leading an effort to merge with bankrupt American Airlines, and had already negotiated a tentative contract with the APA...behind our backs. This was a fast moving locomotive barreling down the tracks and we were determined to get onboard.
It was clear to officers and I, and later clear to almost all of the BPR, that management had no intention of including us in the process. It was quite possible that this merger might get done without the involvement of USAPA. This was unacceptable.
An intense due diligence period ensued. We looked long and hard at all available avenues to extract maximum value for our pilots who had sacrificed so much.
Additionally, we looked for the most capable volunteers to lead this fast moving effort and empowered them to get the job done...and along the way let go some of the baggage of the past.
We looked to our past and found that under President Cleary, the Union had contracted with a respected law firm, Giordano Halloran and Ciesla PC, to test the strength of our contractual Change of Control language and Scope. We paid close attention to their findings. Additionally for continuity and expediency we continued the established legal advisory relationships hired by the prior administration. Professional advisors, Pat Szymanski, Roland Wilder and Brian O’Dwyer all weighed in on the critical issues and debates and offered tremendous value to the effort. We studied the bankruptcy proceedings and testimony of the APA and American. Your union even interviewed and consulted with Investment Bankers such as Black-Rock Capital, to understand where our strengths and weaknesses are.
Through a concerted effort on Capital Hill, in the bankruptcy courts, together with our fellow employees, and through the media, we found our way to a seat of equality at the bargaining table for the impending merger. Our collective efforts produced an MOU that was endorsed by all the professional advisors, our NAC, and a Unanimous vote of the BPR.
At the first contractual referendum in USAPA history, the pilots of US Airways voted for their future. With an overwhelming 75% in favor, you elected to accept the MOU that establishes us as equals with the pilots of American Airlines.
On December 9, 2013 a merger between American Airlines and US Airways was approved. With that approval we immediately realized an average increase in compensation of 40%, we received almost a full year of retroactive pay, a signing bonus, and 14% DC contribution. In just a few short weeks we will get another 8% raise and our DC contribution will increase to 16%.
We now have a real contract, the same contract as the pilots of American Airlines. We know what the next few years look like and we are once again on a trajectory to the top...where we belong. This success is the culmination of a great deal of teamwork by many people. I had only a small part to play but am proud of the accomplishment.
Now to our current situation;
USAPA was not created out of animosity towards management. I founded USAPA because we needed to be in charge of our destinies, to represent our specific and unique interests to the best of our abilities. It was clear at that time that something had to be done and it was clear that ALPA didn’t know what that was...nor did they seem to care.
This is a union of the pilots for the pilots. We bargain in good faith on an equal playing field with management, we strive for mutual gain and collective success, and above all we protect the rights of US Airways pilots and their careers through a strong collective bargaining agreement and unwavering representation.
Consider The Railway Labor Act –Title 45 United States Code says:
§ 152. General duties - First. Duty of carriers and employees to settle disputes
It shall be the duty of all carriers, their officers, agents, and employees to exert every reasonable effort to make and maintain agreements concerning rates of pay, rules, and working conditions, and to settle all disputes, whether arising out of the application of such agreements or otherwise, in order to avoid any interruption to commerce or to the operation of any carrier growing out of any dispute between the carrier and the employees thereof.
It is USAPA’s duty to make and maintain agreements and that is what I and the other founders of this Union designed it to do. That is also what this Officer Corps and dedicated Committee members have done for the past two years...our track record speaks for itself.
There are those who are itching to start a job action, to uncover some previously unknown hidden leverage. They demand to strike, to inflict pain, to frustrate the operation, and even impede the merger process. All this while we are squarely under the control of the NMB, and further from release than ever before, self-help is a pipe dream, especially with the merger behind us.
AN angry emotional plan of attack will not succeed - it is doomed for failures of the past.
We are now part of the new American Airlines. In the not too distant future, the Allied Pilots Association will replace USAPA. Do you think they might have some say in job actions, negotiations, and other critical issues of interest for the combined pilot group? I certainly do, and unless we get back on track, they will leave without us...perhaps they already have?
Do we really want to be once again relegated to the sidelines?
In my opinion, the best course of action is to continue what we have started. To “Make and Maintain” our agreements, as prescribed in the Railway Labor Act, and as your Negotiating Advisory Committee and Merger Committee, are doing right now. To stay in the game and win is the best option.
We must avoid engaging in pointless rhetoric about “Going Nuclear” over minor disputes in a new contract that represents over 12,000 pilots in largest airline in the world. Our combined JCBA process contract documents have over 879 pages, almost half a million words, and a combination of 50-plus chapters and sections. We have a lot of learning and work to do.
A wise man once told me that the creator gave us two ears and on mouth for a reason...to listen twice as much as we speak.
USAPA will maintain its defense of our rights as is defined in the RLA.
Please Vote No Recall Today
www.ballotpoint.com
Fraternally
Stephen Bradford
http://www.votenorecall.org
Why did I get involved?
In late May of 2007, after the disastrous decision known as the Nicolau Award was delivered under the dark cloud of ALPA, I embarked on what many saw as a “fools errand.” Together with some volunteers, I would attempt to organize a rag-tag group of pilots in an effort to remove the largest pilot union in the world from this property. It was, and remains a true “David vs. Goliath” undertaking.
The Nicolau Award represented the “last straw” in our relationship with our former Bargaining Agent. We had just survived two bankruptcies through which the management of the company had changed several times. Because we were the first through the Chapter 11 mill, we suffered doubly as we witnessed ALPA doing a much better job with the carriers of subsequent Bankruptcies. Even after assurances from the ALPA MEC that our pensions would be frozen and spared, we still ended up being the only airline to totally lose our retirement. No other airline in history has endured the massive sacrifices that US Airways pilots did under an ALPA negotiated LOA93. Needless to say, I lost all faith in ALPA.
Apparently many of you felt the same way, as you tirelessly volunteered to help pursue the quest for independence. We had virtually no startup capital, but as if by a miracle, the donations started rolling in. We found support at every turn and against all odds in April of 2008, you voted yes to USAPA as the new collective bargaining agent for pilots of US Airways. USAPA was born.
Because I believed you should have the right to elect the first president for your new union, I stepped down after one year. That democratic election occurred and a new leadership was seated. Unfortunately like many new businesses, the fledgling organization soon veered badly off track. Things were in our own hands and they were not looking so good.
For several years of failure at the bargaining table, getting parked by the NMB, hundreds of outstanding grievances, culminating with a permanent injunction that ended up being labeled an illegal job action, it was clear that USAPA was of track, spinning it’s wheels, and mired in the mud stuck up to the axels... with no relief in sight.
I felt a strong obligation to help the union that I had worked so hard to create. So I decided to jump back in the game. A team was assembled where I ran for the office of Vice President along with Presidential candidate Gary Hummel, Executive Vice President candidate Steve Smyser, and Secretary Treasurer candidate Rob Streble. Our goal was to lead an effort to return our union and careers back to the path of success.
Our campaign was direct, truthful, and open-minded. The election was successful and you voted to change USAPA.
On the very first day we took office, we learned that US Airways Management was leading an effort to merge with bankrupt American Airlines, and had already negotiated a tentative contract with the APA...behind our backs. This was a fast moving locomotive barreling down the tracks and we were determined to get onboard.
It was clear to officers and I, and later clear to almost all of the BPR, that management had no intention of including us in the process. It was quite possible that this merger might get done without the involvement of USAPA. This was unacceptable.
An intense due diligence period ensued. We looked long and hard at all available avenues to extract maximum value for our pilots who had sacrificed so much.
- Change of Control
- Code Share
- SCOPE
- Bankruptcy involvement
- Political involvement and direct lobbying
- Media outlets
- Other employee groups and Unions...
Additionally, we looked for the most capable volunteers to lead this fast moving effort and empowered them to get the job done...and along the way let go some of the baggage of the past.
We looked to our past and found that under President Cleary, the Union had contracted with a respected law firm, Giordano Halloran and Ciesla PC, to test the strength of our contractual Change of Control language and Scope. We paid close attention to their findings. Additionally for continuity and expediency we continued the established legal advisory relationships hired by the prior administration. Professional advisors, Pat Szymanski, Roland Wilder and Brian O’Dwyer all weighed in on the critical issues and debates and offered tremendous value to the effort. We studied the bankruptcy proceedings and testimony of the APA and American. Your union even interviewed and consulted with Investment Bankers such as Black-Rock Capital, to understand where our strengths and weaknesses are.
Through a concerted effort on Capital Hill, in the bankruptcy courts, together with our fellow employees, and through the media, we found our way to a seat of equality at the bargaining table for the impending merger. Our collective efforts produced an MOU that was endorsed by all the professional advisors, our NAC, and a Unanimous vote of the BPR.
At the first contractual referendum in USAPA history, the pilots of US Airways voted for their future. With an overwhelming 75% in favor, you elected to accept the MOU that establishes us as equals with the pilots of American Airlines.
On December 9, 2013 a merger between American Airlines and US Airways was approved. With that approval we immediately realized an average increase in compensation of 40%, we received almost a full year of retroactive pay, a signing bonus, and 14% DC contribution. In just a few short weeks we will get another 8% raise and our DC contribution will increase to 16%.
We now have a real contract, the same contract as the pilots of American Airlines. We know what the next few years look like and we are once again on a trajectory to the top...where we belong. This success is the culmination of a great deal of teamwork by many people. I had only a small part to play but am proud of the accomplishment.
Now to our current situation;
USAPA was not created out of animosity towards management. I founded USAPA because we needed to be in charge of our destinies, to represent our specific and unique interests to the best of our abilities. It was clear at that time that something had to be done and it was clear that ALPA didn’t know what that was...nor did they seem to care.
This is a union of the pilots for the pilots. We bargain in good faith on an equal playing field with management, we strive for mutual gain and collective success, and above all we protect the rights of US Airways pilots and their careers through a strong collective bargaining agreement and unwavering representation.
Consider The Railway Labor Act –Title 45 United States Code says:
§ 152. General duties - First. Duty of carriers and employees to settle disputes
It shall be the duty of all carriers, their officers, agents, and employees to exert every reasonable effort to make and maintain agreements concerning rates of pay, rules, and working conditions, and to settle all disputes, whether arising out of the application of such agreements or otherwise, in order to avoid any interruption to commerce or to the operation of any carrier growing out of any dispute between the carrier and the employees thereof.
It is USAPA’s duty to make and maintain agreements and that is what I and the other founders of this Union designed it to do. That is also what this Officer Corps and dedicated Committee members have done for the past two years...our track record speaks for itself.
There are those who are itching to start a job action, to uncover some previously unknown hidden leverage. They demand to strike, to inflict pain, to frustrate the operation, and even impede the merger process. All this while we are squarely under the control of the NMB, and further from release than ever before, self-help is a pipe dream, especially with the merger behind us.
AN angry emotional plan of attack will not succeed - it is doomed for failures of the past.
We are now part of the new American Airlines. In the not too distant future, the Allied Pilots Association will replace USAPA. Do you think they might have some say in job actions, negotiations, and other critical issues of interest for the combined pilot group? I certainly do, and unless we get back on track, they will leave without us...perhaps they already have?
Do we really want to be once again relegated to the sidelines?
In my opinion, the best course of action is to continue what we have started. To “Make and Maintain” our agreements, as prescribed in the Railway Labor Act, and as your Negotiating Advisory Committee and Merger Committee, are doing right now. To stay in the game and win is the best option.
We must avoid engaging in pointless rhetoric about “Going Nuclear” over minor disputes in a new contract that represents over 12,000 pilots in largest airline in the world. Our combined JCBA process contract documents have over 879 pages, almost half a million words, and a combination of 50-plus chapters and sections. We have a lot of learning and work to do.
A wise man once told me that the creator gave us two ears and on mouth for a reason...to listen twice as much as we speak.
USAPA will maintain its defense of our rights as is defined in the RLA.
- We will make new and improved agreements in the JCBA process underway.
- We will safeguard our rightful position in the seniority integration process.
- We will provide a successor plan for our union as we combine forces with the APA
- And together with your help and VOTE, we will continue on a collective path of success.
Please Vote No Recall Today
www.ballotpoint.com
Fraternally
Stephen Bradford
http://www.votenorecall.org
Last edited by 80ktsClamp; 12-29-2013 at 01:10 PM.
12-29-2013, 10:26 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2012
Position: AB 320 Captain
Posts: 355
Wrong Canoe, Hummel doesn't hold a medical. Union President working for management not the pilots. East and West needs to get him out. Forget DOH and NIC, need a joint effort to get best JCBA. BPR 9 out of 11 voted to recall. This is not a hardline DOH recall. Judas Hummel and tag along Stevie must go!!!!
12-30-2013, 08:53 AM
#5
Flies With The Hat On
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Position: Right of the Left Seat
Posts: 1,339
Only two things should matter right now for USAPA pilots and nothing else:
To change leadership right now would be a disaster. We don't need to destabilize union leadership at all.
I also love how the BPR claims the solution to Hummel grabbing power is for them to grab it for themselves with the addition of a recall vote. —Who is worse?
I voted no recall.
- Integrated Seniority List.
- Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement.
To change leadership right now would be a disaster. We don't need to destabilize union leadership at all.
I also love how the BPR claims the solution to Hummel grabbing power is for them to grab it for themselves with the addition of a recall vote. —Who is worse?
I voted no recall.
12-30-2013, 09:11 AM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Position: A320 FO
Posts: 596
Originally Posted by flybywire44
Only two things should matter right now for USAPA pilots and nothing else:
To change leadership right now would be a disaster. We don't need to destabilize union leadership at all.
I also love how the BPR claims the solution to Hummel grabbing power is for them to grab it for themselves with the addition of a recall vote. —Who is worse?
I voted no recall.
- Integrated Seniority List.
- Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement.
To change leadership right now would be a disaster. We don't need to destabilize union leadership at all.
I also love how the BPR claims the solution to Hummel grabbing power is for them to grab it for themselves with the addition of a recall vote. —Who is worse?
I voted no recall.
12-30-2013, 09:25 AM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2007
Posts: 1,353
Originally Posted by flybywire44
Only two things should matter right now for USAPA pilots and nothing else:
To change leadership right now would be a disaster. We don't need to destabilize union leadership at all.
I also love how the BPR claims the solution to Hummel grabbing power is for them to grab it for themselves with the addition of a recall vote. —Who is worse?
I voted no recall.
- Integrated Seniority List.
- Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement.
To change leadership right now would be a disaster. We don't need to destabilize union leadership at all.
I also love how the BPR claims the solution to Hummel grabbing power is for them to grab it for themselves with the addition of a recall vote. —Who is worse?
I voted no recall.
In the 6yr existence of usapa how many contracts have they brought the group? Need me to help you again? Ok the answer is ZERO! Usapa is a dysfunction of destruction. They have produced nothing of value for the pilots here and have only driven a wedge between the pilots of east and west the will NEVER EVER MEND. The new pay check you just got was due to a merger that management wanted. It had nothing to do with usapa and in fact they knew that if usapa was some how involved they would destroy the deal.
I voted to recall them all. I fully agree with the email that Bradford is a low life POS that I would not shed a tear if he dropped dead in the terminal in fact I would rejoice.
The lesson here is that you can not screw over people and then expect them to aid you. I will do all I can to help the APA steam roll right over usapa.
WD at AWA
12-30-2013, 01:46 PM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2011
Position: A320 Capt
Posts: 5,293
IMHO the whole recall and C&BLs vote is a joke and waste of time. East guys don't even see they have been punked by the west with their support for recalling Humel if they threw the recall of Bradford in.
I voted no on all 3 as we have bigger fish to fry, but am thinking about changing my vote to recall Bradford as that is how I think the west will go and maybe it will wake up the idiot east leaders.
I voted no on all 3 as we have bigger fish to fry, but am thinking about changing my vote to recall Bradford as that is how I think the west will go and maybe it will wake up the idiot east leaders.
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