Busboy

It's much easier to rant, when you don't have to use your own name.

FDXLAG

When I checked yesterday ALPA board 0 posts in 30 days. My conclusion much more satisfying to rant where you have an audience. If you want anonymity, post on the ALPA board, no one will read it.

PeterH

That question is asked in order put to someone in a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” dilemma. A similar tactic has been employed lately in our union. Even as Messrs CB and TH continue to use ALPA resources, sending mass emails to LEC-7 and slinging mud on the MEC Officers and committee volunteers, they expect those same Officers and committee volunteers to remain silent. If the officers respond, it’s political. If the volunteers respond, they are deemed “political henchmen” and some elected MEC reps have recently demanded their “firing” and have plans to fight for that next week. The ANC Rep has communicated that she believes the MEC needs to consider replacing several Committee Chairman, and having an officer recall vote.

Since ‘silence is consent’ and defending oneself is ‘political’ many dedicated committee volunteers are left in a rather untenable situation. I for one am not going to sit idly by and take it. I don’t have access to the ALPA Mass Email System so this forum will have to suffice. (Actually I do, but I won’t misuse that asset as this is no more an official ALPA communication than any of theirs have been - no chop, no prior review in the normal chain).

To them, I am being political when I step up to defend dedicated committee volunteers whom I authorized trip removal in December in order to improve one of our vital nascent Safety programs. Did I take time off Christmas Eve and New Years Eve? I did - in conjunction with vacation days. I took 3 R Days off in Dec. equivalent to 14:33 pay. I then returned that 14:33 of your dues money with more than 59 hours of work which included time away from my family on my birthday and on another occasion, answering a call at 0220 in the morning during my vacation when the ALPA Hotline called to inform me of an incident involving one of our crews. The rest of that particular morning was spent communicating with the crew involved and various folks at FedEx and ALPA. This event concluded at noon.

But those details (which were provided on request) were apparently not important to the Block 1 and 4 representatives. Those facts didn’t suit their agenda and were accordingly absent from all of their recent ‘Council 7 Updates’. It seems that CB and TH kept a secret ‘code of ethics’ in their pockets - one that no committee volunteers had access to, nor knowledge of. These block reps, for their own political purposes, then played “gotcha” by publicly blasting the volunteers after they had violated this unwritten, secret code.

In the Feb 8, 2012 Council 7 update, I was referred to as one of Scott Stratton’s “political henchmen”. I indeed asked the VP of Admin at ALPA National for an Article VIII (ALPA Constitution and Bylaws) Hearing for Messrs CB and TH in response to what I consider to be an ethical lapse on their part.

In part, Article IV of the ALPA Code of Ethics states: An Air Line Pilot will conduct his affairs with other members of the profession and with ALPA in such a manner as to bring credit to the profession and ALPA as well as to himself.•He will not falsely or maliciously injure the professional reputation, prospects, or job security of another pilot, yet if he knows of professional incompetence or conduct detrimental to the profession or to ALPA, he will not shrink from revealing this to the proper authorities within ALPA, so that the weak member may be brought up to the standards demanded, or ALPA and the profession alike may be rid of one unworthy to share its rewards.
(emphasis mine)

Publicly vilifying committee volunteers and then claiming it wasn’t their intention to do so doesn’t wash! The statement: “With all due respect, you’re an A-Hole” is no respect at all. Dragging committee members through the mud and then blaming MEC Officers’ leadership failings didn’t leave the committee volunteers any less muddy.

For argument’s sake, let’s say that committee members taking FPL days on a holiday was not allowed. Based on the ALPA Code of Ethics, they were duty-bound to reveal any short-comings they noted “to the proper authorities within ALPA”. But their agenda would not have been served by fixing the problem and moving forward in unity. It was more important to them politically, to manufacture a problem and blast leadership - DISUNITY

Their own words acknowledge that “The current flight pay loss practice is to allow committee workers to be trip-removed on holidays even though they perform no work on those days.” In spite of that acknowledged fact and that a complete accounting for the FPL taken was provided prior to their public castigation of committee volunteers, they chose to publicly their manufactured complaint rather than follow their duty-bound path to rectify a problem through the proper authorities within ALPA. I am unaware of any attempt they made to point out and correct this perceived short-coming before going to the crew-room with it. That indicates to me they are more interested in having an issue than fixing one.

For pointing this out, I am apparently ‘reprehensible’ and a ‘political henchman’. I am neither, my friends. I am simply a committee volunteer who is tired of the distractions created by this type of behavior. I have more important things to do than clean mud off my reputation. I can assure you this has been one HELL of a distraction to Safety, Negotiations, R&I, Membership, Legislative Affairs, P2P, Grievance, Comm and probably some other committees which I am failing to mention. Those people ALL do good work on your behalf - taking time away from families, flying and fun - and have been repaid with a mud-bath they don’t deserve!.

As it turns out, there are currently no formal charges against either the Block 1 or 4 representatives. My request for a formal hearing was rejected on the grounds that it needs to be brought forward as a resolution in a Local Council Meeting for referral to National, as they are LEC Officers. They BOTH know this and have received certified mail telling them so, but rather than informing the Council of this in their latest update they continue to play the ‘victim’ card and claim I tried to intimidate them from communicating freely and openly with their Council. I have no such motive. Communicate to your hearts’ content, but leave me out of it. If you have a problem with my “behavior” due to “poor leadership” than man up and tell me to my face or, better yet, follow the directive of the ALPA Code of Ethics. But please don’t drag me and other hard-working committee members through the proverbial mud to improve your stature - it isn’t becoming. I would have expected more from a fellow former Marine Officer.

The disunity has been a horrible distraction in an effort to pull down the leadership which has brought in more money for our FDA LOA’s, incredible gains in safety via our ASAP and FOQA programs (which have proven to cut mishap rates by huge percentages at other airlines), a 6% pay increase in the last 12 months and an even-handed approach to doing business.

These last few months have been one distraction after another - and your committees are spending valuable time and effort dealing with them. Volunteers are remaining silent to avoid being political... While I would prefer to remain silent, I didn’t give up my rights as a dues paying member to voice my opinion. I resent having safety dragged into politics - but that seems to be OK with them if it advances discord which only they can ameliorate once they have the helm again. Is that how you want your dues money spent: Dealing with distractions rather than the business at hand?


Are things perfect? Hell no! But in light of the aggregate airline industry, they’re pretty good. And we have a right to be happy with our contract, take gains off the table where we can, and press hard for improvements in scheduling and safety at every turn.

I for one have enjoyed IMMENSELY the opportunity to help implement the safety programs that my predecessors spent a decade trying to get into place. It came to fruition under this leadership package and while it’s been my privilege to work with them, I can assure you my loyalties are to the crew force’s safety and the advancement of the FDX ALPA Safety Committee.

Oh, and I have never beaten my wife. I take umbrage with the question even being asked.

MD114Ever

Wow! Great letter, Pete. Thank you for standing up.

MaxKts

Sorry I missed that email can you tell me which one it was in or where in public did this occur?

HazCan

Right on Pete!

FDX Block 8

Go here to view the message lines -


LEC 7


They become ridiculous starting Nov 2011.

MaxKts

Read them all - still haven't seen what all the hoopla is about.

We have 2 reps that disagree with the direction our union is taking and took their concerns to the membership (you have asked for more communication from the union). Some individuals from the membership decided to take it all public and post it here using the excuse that not everyone gets their emails. Any member in good standing can read them, they are all in the link posted above!

I haven't seen any personal attacks by CB and TH. What I have read is CB and TH pointing out what they think is flawed policy.

What I have read are many accusations and slanderous comments directed at them on APC with no facts to back them up.

R1200RT

MaxKts
Go back and read PeterH's post and then rethink your post. Eye witness account and it seems very personal to him and to 98% of the union.

Kit

FDX Block 8

You and I could not be further apart on this issue.

My take is CB and TH are unable to handle these issues within the MEC so they're taking it to the membership (public). None of these issues can be handled by the membership so it's just public complaining/campaigning. Backlash that has come from APC, or anyone else, is a result of those highly political and divisive message lines from CB and TH. Not every union member has access to their very own LEC message to deliver their take on what's going on. If you don't see accusations and slander in the messages lines I say read them again. Supposed facts and innuendo have yet to be verified.

Maybe CB and TH should investigate and follow proper procedure handling these issues instead of just blasting them out to create distrust, uncertainty and divisiveness among us. No one argues they have a right to investigate perceived problems to their heart's content.

Everyone has to ask themselves who is telling the truth. Who is trustworthy. Good luck.