What do you have against chickens?

While I agree, ATL is a little too cozy sometimes, DH is from 20, not 44.

I’m a firm believer that ALPA bylaws should be rewritten to require that the MEC Chairman be elected by direct membership vote. DH has demonstrated the true unilateral power of the position — not only in terms of setting the tone, but also in terms of informally negotiating with management through the grievance settlement process. The old ALPA argument that the MEC Chairman is nothing more than a figurehead simply falls flat.

There is no chance whatsoever that DH would have been elected by this pilot group.

I disagree. His actions were approved of by a majority of ALPA reps. We don't need a MEC chairman acting against the other elected representatives. A more effective change would be to mandate live streaming and electronically archived MEC/LEC meetings so pilots can participate virtually. A 5 paragraph email from some random pilot amongst 16k pilots isn't nearly adequate to elect a "union president." I am much more comfortable with the LEC reps, the ones who deal with the individuals on a frequent basis, determining the suitability of someone to manage a pretty extensive committee structure and budget

That hasn’t worked for APA.

I’m not. It promotes the culture of cronyism that has led to the type of ineffective leadership we see today. I would much rather see an outsider with broad pilot group support work his/her way in, over another insider who becomes chairman simply by having the right friends among a very small group of people.

DH was one of the least-favored candidates across the overall pilot group when the MEC elected him. There is something fundamentally wrong with that.

right, the guy who voted against the popular 20-04, and against the contract that was voted for overwhelmingly is the guy with his finger on the pulse of the pilots.

FIFY…filler

Out of all of the issues that APA has, this isn’t one of them.

What does that have to do with anything? I voted the way that I did based on personal convictions, as did everyone else here. Nobody casts a vote based on which way they believe the rest of the pilot group is going to vote. I knew that both would pass.

If your belief is that the pilot group would elect DH, then why be fearful of sending the chair position to a membership-wide vote?

A unitary executive is accountable to no one. What's the point of even having a LEC at that point?

DH was one of the least favored candidates? Maybe. But we found out how petty and immature his only real competition was. The epic tantrum he threw when he didn't win was absolutely embarrassing. Maybe the majority saw his behavior and didn't want a loose cannon behind the wheel?

The MEC chairman is still accountable to the LECs and, believe it or not, is still accountable to the pilots. There have been successful recall efforts in the past and unsuccessful, yet very well attended recall meetings. The MEC could then recall and oust anyone they please. Or, in the case of RS, not be reelected..