+ +.

ALPA has done some questionable things, but this isn't one of them.

I don't know about the rest of you guys but I'm thinking ALPA collects a heck of a lot of money in monthly dues to PROTECT OUR INTERESTS and it's about time thay start using our DUES money NOT our Tranche money to do their job. I keep hearing rumors that ALPA has had financial problems due to a loss of dues(revenue)(Just a rumor or fact???) so now they are picking our pockets to do what they are paid to do. If ALPA is being sued by a few cry-baby pilots then tell them to open up their "WAR CHEST" and come down on those pilots like a ton of bricks. Put the hurt on them by bleeding them dry and then counter-sue. Sooner or later, they will have to defend themselves again and there won't be any Tranches to fund it...then what

You nailed it. Why do we need ALPA national to defend us from the lawsuits? It appears we are self funding our defense in the cases with the withholdings from our retro. Perhaps we hire our own attorneys with our dues dollars and tell ALPA to take a hike.

I too want to know the names of the plaintiffs. The continued attack on the majority of pilots by self serving minority groups of pilots has to stop.

James Barnes, Philip Whitehead
Gerald Elwell , Sean Ash , JP Bordewick, Richard Warner
David Schroeder and Michael Coyle
Apparently, they are all in the Training Dept. or in Management.

If there is a lawsuit, it has to be filed in some public court somewhere. The names HAVE to be public. They aren't protected and can't anonymously file a suit without naming themselves as plaintiffs.

Can you post a short brief on the basis of their lawsuit?? We'd all appreciate it.

He didn't nail it. ALPA is the entity being sued! US. Your last paragraph says it all.

Sled

From another forum from the pilot himself...

Chris, That would be me, sir. If you want to blame me for being greedy it is your right. I would, however, ask that you look at facts as they exist, not as they are presented by ALPA. The simple fact is that I went through thier so called "process" and they simply laughed at me. They refused to address the issues brought forth and simply stated that they can do what ever they want. The arbitrator did not even address the facts we brought up, but simply stated that there was a process and said process was followed. Our dispute is quite simple. ALPA violated section 40, paragraph J, of their own policy manual. How did they do this. Well, I'll give you the cliff notes version. Your 2 pay scales for calculating retro pay can both be found in section 3 of the contracts (2003 UAL CBA (old HPR) and (2008 Delta PWA). Easy to figure out. There are no pay rates for PI's in section 3 of either contract. You have to look in the body of each contract to figure out the HPR (hourly pay rate). My old pay rate was capped at 6yr, 67, FO and my new pay rate is capped at 9yr, 777, FO. They did not use my new pay cap to calculate my retro pay and I think they should have. Period. That's it. I don't think that they followed through on their Duty of Fair Representation in calculating my retro pay. Therefore, I went through their process that did nothing but mock me (LEC reps were literally laughing while I pleaded my case) and now we are at the step called "Litigation". You guys are always baning your chest calling for a DFR lawsuit. Well, now that one is filed all you can do is call me a co*k su*ker. Please ask anybody who knows or has worked with me what they think of me. I go out of my way to take care of the boys when they come through TK because that is the way I would want to be treated. I have volunteered for ALPA work on many occasions and walked the info picket lines. I did alot of soul searching before filing this suit. In the end, it is as much about principal as it is about money. I feel ALPA failed to represent my best interests. That is my opinion and I am entitled to it. I ask for neither your approval or sympathy. Only that you look at the facts before you go ballistic. Gerry

Right, ALPA is being sued. So why does ALPA need me to fund this separately from the dues dollars we pay? If they feel the need to create an assessment to cover legal bills I personally believe we could do better on our own. ALPA takes our dues and does what? They ask us to donate to PAC to fund political action. When it comes down to it, the dues just covers a glossy magazine and supports the regional MEC's. When the need arises to defend the pilots that contribute the most, they take our earned retro money. That is the beef I have.

For the guys like Gerry Ewell and the other plaintiffs, perhaps they should have to front their share. If they lose in court they get ZERO. Certainly hope Gerry doesn't spill any coffee on himself in the TK cafeteria. Can't imagine what that would cost us!

By the way one of those names is quiet famous. Mr. David Schroeder is the part of the infamous 31 hour duty day with Bob Jordan on the White House Press charter that went all the way from Andrews to Melbourne, Australia in one duty period. A real hero.... Schroeder is a MGT pilot so he gets the performance incentive pay. Those guys were negotiated out of the retro. So we have guys that fly airplanes outside of the contract (31 hour duty days) yet they want the contract to protect them and pay them retro when it is convenient for them. These guys are really bottom feeders of the highest caliber.:p

Thanks for posting this. What I find incredibly disturbing is that this went to arbitration, he lost, and he still sees fit to continue forth. I don't know what this other forum is where this was seen, but if someone is there, please remind this plaintiff that he costs us interest every day with this further holdback. Add it up amongst 12,000 pilots and that's some SERIOUS coin. Then add the 6% FICA hit if this thing goes past January 1, and I hope that someone does the math for him/them. This is money out of MY pocket. Not ALPA's, not the company's. MINE. And YOURS. Boy oh boy. I sure wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I were costing my fellow brothers and sisters potentially HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS (or more) in taxes. Unbelievable.