Well, we're council 77, so that's up to the reps running the DTW/ORD/ACY council. But Andy B. expressed to me earlier today that, if elected, they'll run complimentary/back-to-back meetings in LAS and DFW (same agenda items). I like it.

 

Andy told you he'd do what's required by the ALPA by-laws, huh?

"The following shall be complied with ... Each meeting having
more than one session shall discuss the same items on the published agenda ..."

I'm not saying that I support the current LEC 77's decision to hold the vote in LAS only, and schedule it after final awards (an issue not unique to LEC 77, by the way), but a guy saying he'll follow the rules he's required to follow is hardly revolutionary.

This is your cue to point out that publishing the budget is required by the bylaws too.

Is someone going to actually campaign for these positions, or is everyone going to say nothing, except CB? The website is so generic - I'll listen, I'll communicate, I'll be the voice of my pilots - hard hitting stuff, right there. How about you take a look at Heide Oberndor's website and take some stands on something, guys?

As far as I can tell, a couple guys who are not running for anything are working a smear campaign against the current LEC 77 Chair and Vice, plus the MEC leadership, none of whom are running for a currently contested position, and implying that a link exists between the candidates actually running simply because these pilots running are currently volunteering for Spirit ALPA. Meanwhile, another guy is single-handedly carrying on an attack (to put it mildly) against a fellow Spirit pilot.

Publishing the LEC 77 budget is not something worth getting excited about (anyone seen the budget for any other LEC, including 109's?). Running for your first office at Spirit, or ever, is hardly a great reason to vote someone in to office either. Are any of the candidates (other than CB) actually going to show us what they stand for, rather than have others tell us all why the current LEC and MEC reps (who, again, aren't running) are NOT good at publishing budgets, or why the grievance committee (also not running for LEC 77 electable positions) doesn't communicate?

After reading 10 pages of 'the current LEC Chair and the current MEC don't publish budgets, and ... well, they're clearly up to something no good, though I have no proof, so, yeah, vote for my guy' - I just can't take any more of it. What do any of the candidates (the guys actually running) stand for (other than publishing the LEC budget)?

 

Well, I would dare to to say the campaigns are just beginning. The candidates have just recently identified themselves to the group and they haven't even been nominated yet. I'm confident we'll be hearing more from them soon. Also, voters should send them emails with their questions and concerns. Just as you showed with Heidi's website, the candidates could publish a Q&A. I'm for that.

 

Actually, no. Your C&BL quote is incomplete. What it leaves off is the phrase "where applicable". If the C&BL's required what the DFW guys are asking for, divided session, we wouldn't be having this conversation. They are not required except "where applicable. I think Andy B's position is that he would always consider it "applicable" for SPA77 due to the distance separating LAS and DFW.

Quite obviously the current LEC didn't consider it applicable for this meeting. Which is a loss for all of us, because it gives the appearance that the LAS based LEC members are taking advantage of circumstance to give themselves a political advantage. In their defense, I spoke to my Capt Rep yesterday and he claims to be making max effort to gain ALPA's permission to set up a divided session which would allow a DFW based pilot to vote in base.


I don't think that Andy is saying that he'll follow the rules , they all "follow the rules", I think that he's saying that he'll follow the intent of the association and afford the opportunity for participation to all of the Local members by using the rules to that end.

The campaigning is taking place on a person to person basis, or at least I hope that to be the case. It is also worth pointing out, as A320 did, that the campaign actually starts after the nomination process.

I don't think we'll see much candidate participation on these internet bbs's. Except by proxy, of which we're all guilty.

 

Wow. No one wants to participate any more. I wonder why?

 

Doesnt look good does it?

You might not want to use the phrase "locked out", I think those words upset the MEC.

SPA ALPA is hiding behind procedure and missing an opportunity to unify the group with the way they are handling this interim election for 77 Capt rep.

 

Yep, just like they did during the great bypass debate of what was it? 2006 or 2007? Remember, when 18 lost their elected reps when they were displaced from DTW?

 

Looks like candidates R.P. and J.A. sent an Council 77 campaign e-mail. In general, a very nice e-mail. But I cannot leave out the hypocritical nature of some of the statements. The current Sec/Tres R.P. which is running for captain rep stated, and I quote...
"Every voice is important to us. Every pilot has the right to be heard and listened to which is why Jxxxx and I pledge to each of you, we will work everyday on behalf of ALL council 77 pilots and that we will make sure every voice is heard."
And further:
"We pledge that by working together to build unity, by embracing transparency and maintaining a respectful dialogue based on mutual respect--we can accomplish great things not only for Council 77, but also the entire pilot group. We do not see ourselves as DFW pilots, we do not see ourselves as LAS pilots--we see ourselves as Spirit Pilots!"

REALLY??? So...why won't he, as the Secretary/Treasurer and the person whose duties are to organize and coordinate meetings, not hold a meeting in DFW, specifically allowed by the bylaws, for DFW pilots to EXERCISE THEIR VOTING RIGHTS??? Oh, right, he's running in for the open position in his home base!!!
Well....go ahead and prove your commitment to unity and schedule a meeting in DFW for those in that are left out and disenfranchised from the process. As a current 77 rep recently stated on an e-mail to one of our pilots, exact quote: "anyone who wishes to run for the open position or vote simply needs to make it happen."
Really? Needs to make it happen? Very unifying huh??

 

You just cant let that go huh?

The Capt rep was displaced, the FO rep bid out for an upgrade. "Council bypass" was not in the SPA MEC Policy manual and the FLL reps at that time had no intention of handing a gun to their potential murderer. The two DTW reps made their desire to oppose anything the FLL reps did very public. The DTW reps were the agressors in a civil war. Im not excusing what the FLL reps did in denying a "council bypass", but when the DTW FO rep sent out numerous emails and other communications accusing the FLL reps of everything from DFR issues to personal attacks on the other guys sexual practices, the stage was set for a decidedly intense battle. FLL just wasnt going to do any favors for the the two DTW reps until the DTW reps retracted their letter of accusations against tbe FLL reps. The retraction never came, even when our Contract Administrator informed the DTW FO rep that most of the accusations were incorrect (he only spoke to issues he had information on). That Contract Admin, and our EVP both attended an MEC meeting in an attempt to put both sides together, but it didnt work. The DTW FO rep stuck to his claims regardless. That wasnt Spirit ALPA's finest hour, one LEC recalling a rep solely because he voted too often with the other council, etc.

Then, as now, it all started over who had political control. DTW tolerated FLL as long as DTW held roll call. After FLL outgrew DTW, the BS started. Recalls, accustions, coup attempts on the Negotiaton Committee, etc.

I would hope that we all learned a lesson back then, but apparently not

 

Roll Call votes, while certainly within the rights of LEC reps, are not the way to conduct business. It amounts to little more than bullying, and more often than not leads to the deterioration of unity within the MEC.

Use it if you must, but make a habit of it and destroy all creditability you may have once had.