32LTangoTen

May 3, 2013
Fellow DFW Members,
As the MEC meeting nears, your LEC 83 officers thought it best to review why this MEC meeting is so important and how we got where we are.
Earlier this year, MEC member Kxxx Pxxx began to grow concerned about the spending habits of our leadership and their friends. Kxxx visited the Finance Department at ALPA National and reviewed the MEC expenses. After several hours of review, Kxxx noticed a pattern of excess spending related to group meals that disturbed him. He picked out one expense in particular for a group meal in DC for $2,085. The expense was entered by MEC Chairman Tony Gutierrez.
Kxxx visited the website for the restaurant and calculated the overall cost if each attendee had the most expensive appetizer/entree/dessert and one non-alcoholic drink. The total was well below the amount reimbursed. He suspected that alcohol was purchased in violation of MEC policy. Kxxx decided that the best forum to shed light on the expense was at the MEC meeting he attended the next day.
The agenda for the meeting included a discussion of expenses for another member of the leadership, so Kxxx believed that it was appropriate to bring it up during that discussion. When he attempted to do so, the chairman advised him that it wouldn’t be discussed and appealed to the attorney/parliamentarian to confirm that he wasn’t obligated to discuss it. The expense was not discussed.
At that point Kxxx decided that the best course of action was to put his concern in front of the pilots and ask for your help. Kxxx then put out a letter detailing the expense. The next day he received a text message from Tony containing a picture of Kxxx in uniform with a beer bottle in front of him. The text read “Someone sent this to me. Just thought you should know.”
The pilot response was immediate. They demanded answers from Tony. His only response indicated that the accusation was full of half-truths and misrepresented the facts. He made it appear as though the expense was legit and he was completely innocent. He suggested that Kxxx's letter was dirty politics, nothing more.
The discussion of MEC expenses was put on the agenda for a special MEC meeting on March 5. The agenda item was tabled. It was suggested that the issue could wait until the regularly scheduled meeting in April. That meeting was delayed until May to allow Tony to attend training.
The exposure of the expense spurred several line pilots to visit the Finance Department at ALPA National to look at the books. Their visit yielded several more questionable group meals and large sums listed as “snacks.” Three receipts were posted to the same business on the same day and listed under snacks. The business turned out to be a liquor store. These expenses happened on the same day as the group meal referenced by Kxxx. The group spent several hours combing through the books and still only scratched the surface.
In late March, a detailed receipt for the group meal referenced by Kxxx was obtained. The receipt showed that alcohol was purchased and consumed at the group meal to the tune of $674.92. This was in clear violation of MEC policy, and we believe it would have been inappropriate even without the policy. Several other receipts were obtained that indicated the practice was rampant. To date, no official written explanation has been provided by either the chairman or vice chairman for their conduct.
The following constitute some bullet points to highlight the current status of the issue:
·Tony and Dave have insisted that this issue is politically motivated and that the accusations are lies. They have also said, “The MEC should never have told the pilots. . . . To do so makes us look bad to US Airways.”

·According to Dave this issue is totally unimportant and the pilots don’t care. The MEC meeting needs to be focused on “the work of the pilots.” Essentially, this attempt to provide accountability for their actions is an unnecessary distraction and completely irrelevant. He removed the resolutions put forward by the Budget Oversight Committee because, under parliamentary procedure, they were not properly on the agenda. The BOC worked hard reviewing our finances, much of it on their own time. Their review yielded a report, and they have put together a presentation to the MEC. It’s clear to us that he is concerned with how their findings will reflect on him and Tony. Dave intends to have his misconduct shrugged off to a committee of his choosing where he hopes it will die.

·A large number of pilots plan to attend the meeting to hear their explanation first-hand. Kxxx requested that it be the first order of business on day two, but the agenda places this issue at the very end of day three; it will be hard to predict when it will be discussed. Vxxx, Kxxx, and Sxxx Pxxx (Council 121) intend to push for Kxxx's timeline. The discussion should be in open session, but we expect Tony and Dave to demand it happen in executive session. If the vote to enter “executive session” passes, every member in good standing will be asked to leave. Pilots are encouraged to show up and make your voice heard.

·Dave has expressed to numerous people that this issue makes us look bad in front of the company. We agree. Having a leadership team that feels it’s OK to ignore policy and direction does make us look bad in front of the company.

·Tony continues to be the primary approver of expenses.
All pilots should send their input on accountability to ALPA president Lee Moak at [email protected] or call National at 888-359-2572 and leave him a message. Let him know if you believe that all fraudulent expenses should be repaid.
We will let you know when these agenda items will be discussed. We look forward to seeing you at the MEC meeting.

Vxxx Jxxx
Chairman

Kxxx pxxx
Vice Chairman

Jxxx Mxxx
Secretary-Treasurer

32LTangoTen

I post this because. I would imagine most or all ALPA MEC's act this way. it's a Little Boys Drinking Club. You should be asking your union questions as well....

Mason32

The difference being the EGL MEC changed their policy to prohibit alcohol purchases with union money. Then they did it anyway.

eaglefly

.....the cover up was the worst aspect of it. What occurred after discovery was beyond appalling. ALPA national has apparently supported these people remaining in office as they still are there.

ALPA is rotten to the core.

Slats

Hey, just keep paying your dues... That's all they care about... Example, I haven't been at an ALPA carrier for over a year and recently received a bill for $105.43 stating I was behind my dues...