New United ALPA Leader
12-19-2022, 03:34 PM
#1
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Joined APC: Jul 2022
Position: 787 FO
Posts: 543
New United ALPA Leader
December 19, 2022
Good evening. My name is Neil Swindells. I am a 787 Captain based in Chicago and I was just elected as your new Master Chair.
As you know, Captain Mike Hamilton resigned last week, pending the election of a replacement, due to a serious family emergency. I have known and worked with Mike for over 30 years and I will take this as my first opportunity to speak on your behalf by saying we all send Mike and his family our very best wishes, and thank him for his decades of dedicated service.
As United Airlines pilots, we are all keenly aware that not only is our current UPA almost four years past its amendable date, but also that the Company's last offer fell short of your expectations by an historic margin. The strength of that 94% No vote was vitally important to your MEC in helping them understand not only the standards you have set, but also the standards we must meet. That pilot unity, coupled with MEC unity will stand us in good stead going forward.
Speaking of unity, I must address how important it is for United ALPA to speak with one voice...a strong voice that is backed up by 15,000 pilots who are tired of being taken advantage of, tired of a Company that fails to keep their commitments for an industry leading contract, and tired of seeing their own union treated with disrespect. I am tired of it too, and I have been elected to help change that.
Thankfully, some of this work has already begun, as evidenced by the outstanding informational picketing events currently taking place throughout the system. In just the past few weeks, we have had pilots turn out in the hundreds at the Denver Training Center, at the United Airlines Board of Directors meeting in Houston, and at our Chicago and Newark hubs. I hope you can attend one of the upcoming events and picket with your fellow pilots, and even our union brothers and sisters from other airlines and employee groups who walk with us in solidarity.
As your new Master Chair, I will devote my time to returning this pilot group to the top of the industry. That will start with an industry leading contract that reflects what CEO Kirby says he wants to achieve...the best airline in the history of aviation flown by the best pilots in the history of aviation. As pilots, we are already there. It's time for the Company to catch up and recognize our continuing contributions.
We will not be distracted by Shiny Jet Syndrome, nor seduced by fancy speeches on CNBC. What we will do is demand the professional respect we deserve for the "Safe, Caring, Dependable and Efficient" service we provide every day for this Company.
As your Master Chair, I will personally reassess the next UPA proposal we slide across the table to the Company to ensure it contains not only the economic value required for it to be ratified by you, but the values needed to promote a safe work-life balance and rid us of decades old, bankruptcy era, work rules that are completely inconsistent with the CEO's stated vision of the best airline in the history of aviation.
Like you, I am looking forward to the future with excitement and enthusiasm. I believe we are at the airline best placed to leverage not only our global network, but our greatest asset: the employees...and not just pilots...every employee. However, as brilliant of a concept as United Next may be, United Next cannot come to fruition without a Contract First.
I thank you for your time and I look forward to speaking to you more in the days, weeks, and months ahead. For now, though, it's time for me to get to work!
In Unity,
Captain Neil Swindells
UAL-MEC Chair
Good evening. My name is Neil Swindells. I am a 787 Captain based in Chicago and I was just elected as your new Master Chair.
As you know, Captain Mike Hamilton resigned last week, pending the election of a replacement, due to a serious family emergency. I have known and worked with Mike for over 30 years and I will take this as my first opportunity to speak on your behalf by saying we all send Mike and his family our very best wishes, and thank him for his decades of dedicated service.
As United Airlines pilots, we are all keenly aware that not only is our current UPA almost four years past its amendable date, but also that the Company's last offer fell short of your expectations by an historic margin. The strength of that 94% No vote was vitally important to your MEC in helping them understand not only the standards you have set, but also the standards we must meet. That pilot unity, coupled with MEC unity will stand us in good stead going forward.
Speaking of unity, I must address how important it is for United ALPA to speak with one voice...a strong voice that is backed up by 15,000 pilots who are tired of being taken advantage of, tired of a Company that fails to keep their commitments for an industry leading contract, and tired of seeing their own union treated with disrespect. I am tired of it too, and I have been elected to help change that.
Thankfully, some of this work has already begun, as evidenced by the outstanding informational picketing events currently taking place throughout the system. In just the past few weeks, we have had pilots turn out in the hundreds at the Denver Training Center, at the United Airlines Board of Directors meeting in Houston, and at our Chicago and Newark hubs. I hope you can attend one of the upcoming events and picket with your fellow pilots, and even our union brothers and sisters from other airlines and employee groups who walk with us in solidarity.
As your new Master Chair, I will devote my time to returning this pilot group to the top of the industry. That will start with an industry leading contract that reflects what CEO Kirby says he wants to achieve...the best airline in the history of aviation flown by the best pilots in the history of aviation. As pilots, we are already there. It's time for the Company to catch up and recognize our continuing contributions.
We will not be distracted by Shiny Jet Syndrome, nor seduced by fancy speeches on CNBC. What we will do is demand the professional respect we deserve for the "Safe, Caring, Dependable and Efficient" service we provide every day for this Company.
As your Master Chair, I will personally reassess the next UPA proposal we slide across the table to the Company to ensure it contains not only the economic value required for it to be ratified by you, but the values needed to promote a safe work-life balance and rid us of decades old, bankruptcy era, work rules that are completely inconsistent with the CEO's stated vision of the best airline in the history of aviation.
Like you, I am looking forward to the future with excitement and enthusiasm. I believe we are at the airline best placed to leverage not only our global network, but our greatest asset: the employees...and not just pilots...every employee. However, as brilliant of a concept as United Next may be, United Next cannot come to fruition without a Contract First.
I thank you for your time and I look forward to speaking to you more in the days, weeks, and months ahead. For now, though, it's time for me to get to work!
In Unity,
Captain Neil Swindells
UAL-MEC Chair
12-19-2022, 04:32 PM
#2
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Joined APC: Oct 2010
Posts: 309
Originally Posted by jerryleber
December 19, 2022
Good evening. My name is Neil Swindells. I am a 787 Captain based in Chicago and I was just elected as your new Master Chair.
As you know, Captain Mike Hamilton resigned last week, pending the election of a replacement, due to a serious family emergency. I have known and worked with Mike for over 30 years and I will take this as my first opportunity to speak on your behalf by saying we all send Mike and his family our very best wishes, and thank him for his decades of dedicated service.
As United Airlines pilots, we are all keenly aware that not only is our current UPA almost four years past its amendable date, but also that the Company's last offer fell short of your expectations by an historic margin. The strength of that 94% No vote was vitally important to your MEC in helping them understand not only the standards you have set, but also the standards we must meet. That pilot unity, coupled with MEC unity will stand us in good stead going forward.
Speaking of unity, I must address how important it is for United ALPA to speak with one voice...a strong voice that is backed up by 15,000 pilots who are tired of being taken advantage of, tired of a Company that fails to keep their commitments for an industry leading contract, and tired of seeing their own union treated with disrespect. I am tired of it too, and I have been elected to help change that.
Thankfully, some of this work has already begun, as evidenced by the outstanding informational picketing events currently taking place throughout the system. In just the past few weeks, we have had pilots turn out in the hundreds at the Denver Training Center, at the United Airlines Board of Directors meeting in Houston, and at our Chicago and Newark hubs. I hope you can attend one of the upcoming events and picket with your fellow pilots, and even our union brothers and sisters from other airlines and employee groups who walk with us in solidarity.
As your new Master Chair, I will devote my time to returning this pilot group to the top of the industry. That will start with an industry leading contract that reflects what CEO Kirby says he wants to achieve...the best airline in the history of aviation flown by the best pilots in the history of aviation. As pilots, we are already there. It's time for the Company to catch up and recognize our continuing contributions.
We will not be distracted by Shiny Jet Syndrome, nor seduced by fancy speeches on CNBC. What we will do is demand the professional respect we deserve for the "Safe, Caring, Dependable and Efficient" service we provide every day for this Company.
As your Master Chair, I will personally reassess the next UPA proposal we slide across the table to the Company to ensure it contains not only the economic value required for it to be ratified by you, but the values needed to promote a safe work-life balance and rid us of decades old, bankruptcy era, work rules that are completely inconsistent with the CEO's stated vision of the best airline in the history of aviation.
Like you, I am looking forward to the future with excitement and enthusiasm. I believe we are at the airline best placed to leverage not only our global network, but our greatest asset: the employees...and not just pilots...every employee. However, as brilliant of a concept as United Next may be, United Next cannot come to fruition without a Contract First.
I thank you for your time and I look forward to speaking to you more in the days, weeks, and months ahead. For now, though, it's time for me to get to work!
In Unity,
Captain Neil Swindells
UAL-MEC Chair
Good evening. My name is Neil Swindells. I am a 787 Captain based in Chicago and I was just elected as your new Master Chair.
As you know, Captain Mike Hamilton resigned last week, pending the election of a replacement, due to a serious family emergency. I have known and worked with Mike for over 30 years and I will take this as my first opportunity to speak on your behalf by saying we all send Mike and his family our very best wishes, and thank him for his decades of dedicated service.
As United Airlines pilots, we are all keenly aware that not only is our current UPA almost four years past its amendable date, but also that the Company's last offer fell short of your expectations by an historic margin. The strength of that 94% No vote was vitally important to your MEC in helping them understand not only the standards you have set, but also the standards we must meet. That pilot unity, coupled with MEC unity will stand us in good stead going forward.
Speaking of unity, I must address how important it is for United ALPA to speak with one voice...a strong voice that is backed up by 15,000 pilots who are tired of being taken advantage of, tired of a Company that fails to keep their commitments for an industry leading contract, and tired of seeing their own union treated with disrespect. I am tired of it too, and I have been elected to help change that.
Thankfully, some of this work has already begun, as evidenced by the outstanding informational picketing events currently taking place throughout the system. In just the past few weeks, we have had pilots turn out in the hundreds at the Denver Training Center, at the United Airlines Board of Directors meeting in Houston, and at our Chicago and Newark hubs. I hope you can attend one of the upcoming events and picket with your fellow pilots, and even our union brothers and sisters from other airlines and employee groups who walk with us in solidarity.
As your new Master Chair, I will devote my time to returning this pilot group to the top of the industry. That will start with an industry leading contract that reflects what CEO Kirby says he wants to achieve...the best airline in the history of aviation flown by the best pilots in the history of aviation. As pilots, we are already there. It's time for the Company to catch up and recognize our continuing contributions.
We will not be distracted by Shiny Jet Syndrome, nor seduced by fancy speeches on CNBC. What we will do is demand the professional respect we deserve for the "Safe, Caring, Dependable and Efficient" service we provide every day for this Company.
As your Master Chair, I will personally reassess the next UPA proposal we slide across the table to the Company to ensure it contains not only the economic value required for it to be ratified by you, but the values needed to promote a safe work-life balance and rid us of decades old, bankruptcy era, work rules that are completely inconsistent with the CEO's stated vision of the best airline in the history of aviation.
Like you, I am looking forward to the future with excitement and enthusiasm. I believe we are at the airline best placed to leverage not only our global network, but our greatest asset: the employees...and not just pilots...every employee. However, as brilliant of a concept as United Next may be, United Next cannot come to fruition without a Contract First.
I thank you for your time and I look forward to speaking to you more in the days, weeks, and months ahead. For now, though, it's time for me to get to work!
In Unity,
Captain Neil Swindells
UAL-MEC Chair
12-19-2022, 05:07 PM
#3
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Originally Posted by Mitch Rapp
I’m genuinely excited by this news. Neil is abrasive, loud, and on the wrong side of the political aisle, BUT he’s also incredibly intelligent, properly motivated, and a staunch unionist! I think many of his detractors will be pleasantly surprised by his term.
12-19-2022, 05:40 PM
#4
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Position: 757/767 First Officer
Posts: 363
Neil will do the best that any of us could do. I’m confident that this will turn out very well.
12-19-2022, 05:42 PM
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12-19-2022, 05:42 PM
#6
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Posts: 363
Originally Posted by Mitch Rapp
and on the wrong side of the political aisle,
Other than that I agree with the rest of your statement.
12-19-2022, 07:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Mitch Rapp
I’m genuinely excited by this news. Neil is abrasive, loud, and on the wrong side of the political aisle, BUT he’s also incredibly intelligent, properly motivated, and a staunch unionist! I think many of his detractors will be pleasantly surprised by his term.
I highly doubt that
Kirby is laughing all the way to the bank how well this union is split now
12-19-2022, 07:22 PM
#8
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Posts: 1,825
Originally Posted by Sniper66
I highly doubt that
Kirby is laughing all the way to the bank how well this union is split now
Kirby is laughing all the way to the bank how well this union is split now
12-19-2022, 07:24 PM
#9
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Posts: 1,029
Originally Posted by Sniper66
I highly doubt that
Kirby is laughing all the way to the bank how well this union is split now
Kirby is laughing all the way to the bank how well this union is split now
12-19-2022, 08:30 PM
#10
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Position: Captain
Posts: 1,559
Originally Posted by UALinIAH
You are clueless or just never seen a staunch unionist at work. Todd had the entire MEC is his pocket for 6 years. Didn’t work out too well did it? I’ll take an abrasive AH of a MC who’s willing to fight the enemy (Management) any day over the place nice so I can have my National job and first class for life “me first” dude who’s crying right now on his Twitter.
TI was no good I agree.. not clueless and I will not call you names not my style
but he was very much so put in place as a master chair by NS and the rest of his group …. Go read how they promoted TI after Hep—-r
all of them realised their f —- up and turned against him as they should
you have the new TI now again ( I know what’s best for you attitude )
No unity at all from now on unfortunately and that’s why SK is laughing all the way to the bank
however I agree NS has no national inspirations
Last edited by Sniper66; 12-19-2022 at 08:46 PM.
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