Earth to Prater... C34 VC report
04-26-2008, 07:44 AM
#1
Da Man
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Earth to Prater... C34 VC report
COUNCIL 34 VICE CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
F/O Mike Holman, Vice Chairman
March 2008
Pilots of Council 34,
Over the past few months my reports to you have dealt mostly with local council issues, an incompetent and morally bankrupt management, and a kamikaze dog. This month I’d like to discuss a more sensitive issue; the lack of respect and support from ALPA National for the United Pilots.
In October of 2006 I attended my first ALPA National Board of Directors meeting in Las Vegas. While I had been to ALPA headquarters in Herndon, Virginia on several occasions, and met with a number of ALPA National officers, this was my first real working experience with ALPA National. Knowing that the pilots of United are the single largest group within ALPA (as well as the largest source of dues dollars) I walked into day one of the meeting expecting our MEC to be treated with respect. Such was not the case.
During the weeklong meeting the United MEC, and the pilots of United, were treated with disrespect and contempt by the very group we feed. I saw more respect given to groups of pimple faced boys claiming to be the “MEC” from some regional carrier down south than was to our own MEC. I saw great efforts put forth from ALPA National to pacify the pilots of carriers flying nothing larger than a 50 seat RJ, yet when one of the members of our own MEC spoke he was ignored.
About half-way through the week, elections were held for new ALPA National officers. Much has been reported about these elections and I won’t repeat it all here, but I will add this: only 30 minutes before the elections were held our MEC decided, unanimously, to support John Prater in his bid to succeed Duane Woerth as the new president of ALPA National. I had grown tired of the same old rhetoric and inaction from Captain Woerth and believed this decision to support Captain Prater was in the best interests of ALPA, as well as the pilots of United Airlines. Prater’s margin of victory was so slim that if even one member of the United MEC had changed their vote he would have lost. To put it simply, Captain John Prater owed his victory to the pilots of United Airlines.
Earlier in the week I had had several private conversations with Prater and it was my feeling that he was the right man for the job. I told one of our pilots later that we had elected a “pilot warrior” to lead us. I expected that our new leader would realize not just who put him in office, but would finally recognize and respect the pilots of United Airlines. I was to be disappointed.
At the January 2008 meeting of the United MEC Captain Prater was present to address us. He began by saying he had no prepared remarks, and then proceeded to deliver an apparently canned and rehearsed speech; at the conclusion of which I asked him two questions.
My first question began with a reminder that the pilots of United Airlines constitute the largest single member of ALPA, as well as the largest source of dues income. I then asked why it is that in most issues of “Airline Pilot”, the official publication of ALPA, the only mention of United Airlines I can find is to the right of the names of some of our pilots who have recently passed away, while in the same publication there is no sparing of either space or expense in reporting on the proud pilots of the RJ airline de jour. For emphasis I held up the current issue of “Airline Pilot” showing a photo of an RJ on the cover. Before Captain Prater could answer I asked my second question.
Using the RJ on the cover as a backdrop, I said that the magazine proudly reports on the growth of airlines flying RJs and the increasing membership in ALPA this provides. However, this growth in RJ flying comes with a loss of jobs at the major carriers, specifically United, which has lost thousands of pilot jobs to the RJs. I also pointed out to Captain Prater that many of these same RJ pilots have been spotted with stickers on their flight bags that say “GUPPY KILLER” in reference to the fact that their RJs have put our pilots out of work. I asked Captain Prater if he approved of this show of arrogance on the part of these pilots and if this is something that ALPA National encouraged. The silence in the room was deafening and I eagerly awaited Captain Prater’s response. Again, I was disappointed.
Not only did Captain Prater not answer my questions, the response I got seemed to be a rehash of the same rehearsed speech he had just given. I would have thought that such a question, from an elected representative of one of the largest councils of the largest airlines in ALPA, deserved a better response. Unfortunately, it appears that Captain Prater and ALPA National intend to continue to ignore and disrespect the pilots of United Airlines. It also appears that the “pilot warrior” I thought we had elected to lead us is turning out to be nothing more than another politician.
The next ALPA National Board of Directors meeting will be this October. I will be there and look forward to reporting to you about it.
Fraternally,
Mike Holman
Council 34 Vice Chairman
F/O Mike Holman, Vice Chairman
March 2008
Pilots of Council 34,
Over the past few months my reports to you have dealt mostly with local council issues, an incompetent and morally bankrupt management, and a kamikaze dog. This month I’d like to discuss a more sensitive issue; the lack of respect and support from ALPA National for the United Pilots.
In October of 2006 I attended my first ALPA National Board of Directors meeting in Las Vegas. While I had been to ALPA headquarters in Herndon, Virginia on several occasions, and met with a number of ALPA National officers, this was my first real working experience with ALPA National. Knowing that the pilots of United are the single largest group within ALPA (as well as the largest source of dues dollars) I walked into day one of the meeting expecting our MEC to be treated with respect. Such was not the case.
During the weeklong meeting the United MEC, and the pilots of United, were treated with disrespect and contempt by the very group we feed. I saw more respect given to groups of pimple faced boys claiming to be the “MEC” from some regional carrier down south than was to our own MEC. I saw great efforts put forth from ALPA National to pacify the pilots of carriers flying nothing larger than a 50 seat RJ, yet when one of the members of our own MEC spoke he was ignored.
About half-way through the week, elections were held for new ALPA National officers. Much has been reported about these elections and I won’t repeat it all here, but I will add this: only 30 minutes before the elections were held our MEC decided, unanimously, to support John Prater in his bid to succeed Duane Woerth as the new president of ALPA National. I had grown tired of the same old rhetoric and inaction from Captain Woerth and believed this decision to support Captain Prater was in the best interests of ALPA, as well as the pilots of United Airlines. Prater’s margin of victory was so slim that if even one member of the United MEC had changed their vote he would have lost. To put it simply, Captain John Prater owed his victory to the pilots of United Airlines.
Earlier in the week I had had several private conversations with Prater and it was my feeling that he was the right man for the job. I told one of our pilots later that we had elected a “pilot warrior” to lead us. I expected that our new leader would realize not just who put him in office, but would finally recognize and respect the pilots of United Airlines. I was to be disappointed.
At the January 2008 meeting of the United MEC Captain Prater was present to address us. He began by saying he had no prepared remarks, and then proceeded to deliver an apparently canned and rehearsed speech; at the conclusion of which I asked him two questions.
My first question began with a reminder that the pilots of United Airlines constitute the largest single member of ALPA, as well as the largest source of dues income. I then asked why it is that in most issues of “Airline Pilot”, the official publication of ALPA, the only mention of United Airlines I can find is to the right of the names of some of our pilots who have recently passed away, while in the same publication there is no sparing of either space or expense in reporting on the proud pilots of the RJ airline de jour. For emphasis I held up the current issue of “Airline Pilot” showing a photo of an RJ on the cover. Before Captain Prater could answer I asked my second question.
Using the RJ on the cover as a backdrop, I said that the magazine proudly reports on the growth of airlines flying RJs and the increasing membership in ALPA this provides. However, this growth in RJ flying comes with a loss of jobs at the major carriers, specifically United, which has lost thousands of pilot jobs to the RJs. I also pointed out to Captain Prater that many of these same RJ pilots have been spotted with stickers on their flight bags that say “GUPPY KILLER” in reference to the fact that their RJs have put our pilots out of work. I asked Captain Prater if he approved of this show of arrogance on the part of these pilots and if this is something that ALPA National encouraged. The silence in the room was deafening and I eagerly awaited Captain Prater’s response. Again, I was disappointed.
Not only did Captain Prater not answer my questions, the response I got seemed to be a rehash of the same rehearsed speech he had just given. I would have thought that such a question, from an elected representative of one of the largest councils of the largest airlines in ALPA, deserved a better response. Unfortunately, it appears that Captain Prater and ALPA National intend to continue to ignore and disrespect the pilots of United Airlines. It also appears that the “pilot warrior” I thought we had elected to lead us is turning out to be nothing more than another politician.
The next ALPA National Board of Directors meeting will be this October. I will be there and look forward to reporting to you about it.
Fraternally,
Mike Holman
Council 34 Vice Chairman
04-26-2008, 08:11 AM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: FedEx
Posts: 666
Well, as much as I can't stand Prater or ALPA National for what they did on Age 60, this email shows equal amounts of hubris and disdain for those "pimple faced boys..........from some regional carrier down south" as FO Holman believes Prater has for his royal MEC and pilot force.
I think F/O Holman is quite full of himself and United. I guess any other member of any MEC who voted for Prater could make the same claim seeing as it was such a narrow margin of victory.
I tend to think that Prater owes all of us some better representation, but I don't expect it out of him. He has quickly shown where his priorities and interest lie, and they aren't in protecting anybody but himself, his buds, and ALPA National. We should all understand that.
What a "union" we have in ALPA.
FJ
I think F/O Holman is quite full of himself and United. I guess any other member of any MEC who voted for Prater could make the same claim seeing as it was such a narrow margin of victory.
I tend to think that Prater owes all of us some better representation, but I don't expect it out of him. He has quickly shown where his priorities and interest lie, and they aren't in protecting anybody but himself, his buds, and ALPA National. We should all understand that.
What a "union" we have in ALPA.
FJ
04-26-2008, 08:17 AM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Position: A320
Posts: 1,347
While ALPA is a shell of what it should be, I suggest voting with your feet rather than your typewriter. USAir may or may not have the right strategy, time will tell, but I can tell you that ALPA is taking notice of its own ineptitude finally.
If their biggest dues payer threatened to break off too, then I'd assume you'd get some better results.
If their biggest dues payer threatened to break off too, then I'd assume you'd get some better results.
04-26-2008, 08:35 AM
#4
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Joined APC: May 2007
Position: A320 CA
Posts: 1,530
Originally Posted by labbats
While ALPA is a shell of what it should be, I suggest voting with your feet rather than your typewriter. USAir may or may not have the right strategy, time will tell, but I can tell you that ALPA is taking notice of its own ineptitude finally.
If their biggest dues payer threatened to break off too, then I'd assume you'd get some better results.
If their biggest dues payer threatened to break off too, then I'd assume you'd get some better results.
Prater has to suck up to the Regionals because he just screwed us with Age 60. Skywest and Colgan both had failed ALPA drives so I'm sure he's trying to restore order on the Regional side of the house. It's not all about you United.
04-26-2008, 08:42 AM
#5
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Position: A320 CA
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Originally Posted by WatchThis!
I also pointed out to Captain Prater that many of these same RJ pilots have been spotted with stickers on their flight bags that say “GUPPY KILLER” in reference to the fact that their RJs have put our pilots out of work.
04-26-2008, 09:03 AM
#6
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Joined APC: Jul 2006
Posts: 652
Originally Posted by blastoff
I have yet to see one. And I doubt there are "many."
There are more than you think....
Just a little tacky, although the last flight bag with a logo from apple computers to In and Out Burger (and everything in between) looked like something a 5 year old would have.
AA
04-26-2008, 09:04 AM
#7
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Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: Cap. 737
Posts: 293
United pilots beef with ALPA really isn't about the RJ pilots themselves but the fact that ALPA allowed management to hand over our jobs to the RJs. Not the RJ pilots fault, not by a long shot.
Bottom line, I really can't come up with anything that ALPA has done in recent years to protect United pilots but I have seen plenty of things that have thrown us under the bus. Age 65 being one of the foremost. As for voting with your feet, easier said than done. US Airways mostly stepped out due to the divisive nature of the pilot group.
I think we at United suffer from learned helplessness. We have been beaten down for so long we have not just forgotten how to fight but don't even realize we can fight. I'm not claiming to have any answers but I hate to see pilots becoming pitted against each other, it does not do anything good for us in the long run except distract us from the important issues.
Bottom line, I really can't come up with anything that ALPA has done in recent years to protect United pilots but I have seen plenty of things that have thrown us under the bus. Age 65 being one of the foremost. As for voting with your feet, easier said than done. US Airways mostly stepped out due to the divisive nature of the pilot group.
I think we at United suffer from learned helplessness. We have been beaten down for so long we have not just forgotten how to fight but don't even realize we can fight. I'm not claiming to have any answers but I hate to see pilots becoming pitted against each other, it does not do anything good for us in the long run except distract us from the important issues.
04-26-2008, 09:05 AM
#8
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Joined APC: May 2007
Position: A320 CA
Posts: 1,530
Originally Posted by AAflyer
There are more than you think....
Just a little tacky, although the last flight bag with a logo from apple computers to In and Out Burger (and everything in between) looked like something a 5 year old would have.
AA
Just a little tacky, although the last flight bag with a logo from apple computers to In and Out Burger (and everything in between) looked like something a 5 year old would have.
AA
04-26-2008, 09:59 AM
#9
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Position: SAAB
Posts: 300
I fly for a regional, I don't view myselft as a guppy killer. I am a family man trying to put food on the table. If you don't like regionals taking away your flying then get our lists integrated. Walking away and starting your own union will be managements wet dream. Get involved in your union, it's pilot driven.
Would the AA pilot group and all pilots in general been better off if they hadn't started their in house union? What will happen with USAir? Too many people now adays would rather throw something out and get something new than fix/rebuild what they already have.
Would the AA pilot group and all pilots in general been better off if they hadn't started their in house union? What will happen with USAir? Too many people now adays would rather throw something out and get something new than fix/rebuild what they already have.
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