MEC Meeting Update
Corruption in LGA LEC 121; FO Rep Karim
Wasted Dues, Self-Progression, Abandonment of responsibilities, Threats of moving to management
All recorded in meeting minutes.
I wanted to take this opportunity to inform the NY Envoy pilots, and the greater pilot group as a whole, of a disingenuous Rep that has put himself before his pilots in way that it is unprecedented in Eagle Alpa history. It is not my pleasure to do this, but I feel it is my responsibility to do so after baring witness to Karim’s despicable behavior.
Over the past 3 weeks the NY FO Rep has been petitioning the company to bypass our CBA and FAR’s to better his own personal financial status and career progression while not seeking the same benefit for his own pilots. He has now moved on to demanding the MEC pass a special resolution to allow him to upgrade to Captain, while not being qualified. When asked why he feels he deserves to be the sole beneficent of this move he proclaimed that it was “ALPA’s responsibility to progress his career” “I should get Captain pay” “I could be logging PIC hours that would get me to mainline sooner.” These attempts were made on a continuous basis throughout this week’s MEC meeting during afterhours events. The attempts border lined on harassment after your fellow, more honest Status Reps refused to entertain his demands. As the week progressed Karim intensified his pursuit by threatening to resign and abandon his pilots if the Chair, or another member of the MEC did not formalize and advance his demands. On several occasions Karim was instructed to draft a resolution for MEC consideration that would afford Envoy FO’s, including those he represents in NY, the same benefit he was seeking. He refused to do so. Karim’s week was topped off by making a final demand in open session before the close of the meeting. This means that all of this is recorded and made available in the meeting minutes for all ALPA members to review. Keep in mind that the NY FO Rep attempted to complete this by the close of our last bid so he could hold DCL. He also threated to take his talents to management if the MEC didn’t play along.
I want everyone to take a moment to think about the dues dollars that were spent over the past week for Karim to progress himself: FPL for every hour that he was pulled of duty for, 25% fringe rate, DFW hotels, Meals during meetings... This amount is in the thousands and NY’s only elected rep chose to spend his time advancing his own career. This Rep also has no intention of maintaining a status in his elected base, nor operate an aircraft that even fly’s through it. Karim’s intention is to make backroom deals with management that circumvent our CBA and bypass the pilots who elected him. Why? He deserves captain pay before he’s qualified and should have the opportunity to log PIC time so he can make it to a main line sooner.
There’s an election right now, and there’s options besides Karim. The pilots of LGA 121 have the power to choose a better Rep, the vote out this toxic personality. To find someone who gives a damn about their pilots. One day you’re going to need an ALPA Rep to help keep your job. When Karim’s sitting in that room with only the chief pilot sitting across the table, do you trust him? If the CP makes offers a deal that requires your termination in exchange for a high paying office job, is Karim going to make the right choice?
The decision is yours LGA pilots, even if Karim’s voted in you can still recall him.
P.S. – The meeting minutes you want to read are at the very end of the notes. Talk to any other Status Rep or Officer about this week, even Bill Couette the VP of Admin. They were all there to watch and there was no humility from Karim when they told him he should resign.