BOD Election - Wendy Morse - The Real Story
10-22-2022, 12:28 PM
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BOD Election - Wendy Morse - The Real Story
First hand account from an observer in the room.
The ALPA National Election, What Really Happened?
On Wednesday, October 19, the Airline Pilots Association International made history by electing Captain Wendy Morse to the position of First Vice President. Captain Morse is the first female National officer in ALPA history. She has held a number of ALPA positions including, UAL MEC Chairman, UAL MEC Negotiating Committee, and UAL ALPA Council 12 Chairman.
The intrigue of ALPA politics tends to take on a life of its own so in the interest of pulling back the veil for the membership to see how the sausage is made, the following is an accurate account.
The way that National elections work is that each LEC officer, from each airline, casts the number of votes equal to the number of pilots they represent.
A total of 51,619 votes were possible on that day. Winning any position would require 25,810. The UAL MEC had a combined total vote of 11,297.
The first election was for ALPA National President. No experienced ALPA observers have ever seen a margin of victory this large, especially on the first round of voting. It is unprecedented.
Jason Ambrosi (DAL) 41,007
Todd Insler (UAL) 7,003
Bill Couette (EDV) 3,539
Immediately after the election of ALPA’s new president, Jason Ambrosi, nominations for the position of First Vice President had only one candidate, Captain Wes Reed (FEDEX). Prior to announcing the nominee, the body of the BOD called for a recess, a process break, so the 40 ish MEC’s could plan how they wanted to cast their next vote. Some members of the UAL MEC were insistent on having a United candidate on the ballot. The UAL MEC gathered to discuss.
Members of the MEC discussed potential candidates including current MEC Chairman, Mike Hamilton and MEC Secretary Paul Ryder. Chairman Hamilton said he would be willing to be the ALPA National First Vice President candidate if the MEC unanimously supported the idea.
In order to gain the necessary votes it was clear that the supporters of Captain Ambrosi would be necessary to support our candidate, after all, even if the UAL MEC voted unanimously that would only add up to 11,297 votes. The Delta MEC was not supportive of FDX CA Reed, nor could they support UAL Master Chairman Hamilton or Secretary Ryder because of their close association with former MEC Chairman Insler. When this news was reported back to the UAL MEC, Council 5 Chairman Larry Beck, addressed the group and explained that the MEC would have to coalesce if it wanted any position at ALPA National over the next four, possibly eight years.
The mood in the room was serious as members of the United MEC wrestled with the notion that United pilots could be shut-out of any national officer position. Members of the MEC began talking out loud as they worked through the idea at hand. Council 57 (LAX) Captain Representative, Scott Combest, a strong supporter of former MEC Chairman Todd Insler, suggested that Captain Wendy Morse’s name be floated for First Vice President. This idea was supported by Council 172 (CLE) Chairman, Josh Kallet.
Chairman Hamilton spoke out and asked CA Morse a pointed question, “Wendy, Do you want the job of 1st VP?”
Captain Morse replied, “Well, no one ever really WANTS these jobs.”
Chairman Hamilton quickly uttered, “Yeah, tell me about it!”
Council 93 (DENTK) Captain representative Chris Clay spoke affirmatively about Captain Morse being capable for the job and Council 34 (SFO) Captain representative Noel Ojeda nodded in agreement.
Captain Morse spoke up and asked Council 12 (ORD) Vice Chairman, Phil Anderson, what he thought. Anderson said that he thought it was a bad idea because Council 12 needed Morse in Chicago, and that the MEC will need her experience to help navigate the change coming to the MEC.
MEC Chair Mike Hamilton asked Wendy if she wanted to do it. She replied, “No, I really don’t want to do it but if you need me to I will serve.”
The MEC then unanimously agreed (by voice) to support Captain Morse as the UAL MEC’s choice for the national officer position of First Vice President.
The vote went as follows:
Wendy Morse (UAL) 26,557
Wes Reed (FDX) 18,150
Doug Grant (HAL) 6,912
For those who suggest that a calculated and deceptive political strategy was employed by Wendy Morse or by any of those who support her, the facts bear witness to such rhetoric being fiction.
If you have questions, you should ask the LEC supporters of ALPA National Presidential candidate Insler, you should ask your representatives, why did you guys ask Chairman Morse to run for the First Vice President position, and why did you agree to unanimously support her?
(See the Council 57 Update: From the Chairman, published on October 21, 2022)
October 21, 2022
Council 57 Update:
From the Chairman
Brothers and Sisters of Council 57,
Yesterday, the ALPA biennial Board of Directors (BOD) meeting concluded, as did our own MEC meeting that began last week. As you've probably read, Captain Jason Ambrosi of Delta Airlines was elected as our new ALPA President, and Captain Wendy Morse, UAL Council 12 Chair was elected as 1st Vice President.
With the election behind us, they both have my full support as the prepare to take their leadership positions in January.
This BOD is now history, and it turned out completely different than I ever imagined. As you know, I supported Todd Insler for President, who lost his election. As I state below, I supported Wendy Morse for Vice President. When that history is written, part of the story will be how the good ol’ bare-knuckle union campaigning crossed the line into a political assassination of a long-time ALPA volunteer who has helped the careers of thousands of United pilots. I was shocked at the behavior I witnessed at the BOD towards Todd. It is one thing to oppose the policies of a fellow pilot and campaign against them; it is another to attack them personally with mobile billboards and stickers touting outright falsehoods to score points.
What is done is done. The BOD has spoken. We thank all those who expressed a willingness to serve, and we now must move forward... together.
During our last council meeting, the importance of ALPA National office was mentioned. A few voices asked: Why does that matter?
Here's why it matters: Representation at the head table of ALPA National is essential to our interests. We are the largest pilot group within ALPA. United pilots pay more dues money to ALPA National than any other pilot group. In fact, if you take away the Delta pilot group, United pilots pay more dues money to ALPA than the rest of ALPA combined! We pay dearly for our representation, and to not have a voice at the head of that table would be a disaster for us.
United pilots are the Foundation of ALPA, not the doormat!
The threats to our collective interests have not gone away. If anything, they are more acute than ever, and as a group we have more to lose than anyone.
Within the U.S., United has more wide-body flying than Delta, American and any third pilot group you'd care to mention. That means United pilots face the greatest threat from the Flags of Convenience, Foreign Flag carriers and Cabotage. We all face common threats of Security, Safety and Reduced Crew Complement, but those other threats are most acute in the markets where United pilots fly.
To not have the United pilots' interests represented at the national and international level would have disastrous effects on our representation, from having a say on ALPA committees to influencing the direction of ALPA PAC. We pay for that representation. Either we use it or we lose it!
Flash forward to the VP Elections...
With the other offices all but decided, that left us with the 1st Vice President election. Several names from United were proposed with the other delegations, including Mike Hamilton's. All were declined. We were running out of options to secure a United seat at the National table.
Finally, late in the day and with the deadline for a vote approaching, I proposed Wendy Morse as a candidate. The other delegations were open to it. I then approached Wendy and said that the United pilots needed a candidate, and that she needed to do this! She agreed, and when the votes were finally tallied, Wendy Morse was elected as ALPA's 1st Vice President.
To be clear: I advocated for that candidacy, and I stand by my vote. The alternative of being shutout of National would have been far to costly for the United pilots I represent.
It is no secret that Wendy Morse and I have been on opposite sides of many debates at the MEC table since I took office in 2018. We have had fundamental disagreements over many issues, including the Pandemic Recovery LOA 20-05, Section 6 and the Tentative Agreement. And, in the face of my pointed advocacy, I imagine she would not object to my recall as the Captain's Representative in Council 57. So, I'm sure many of you are shocked that I would support Wendy Morse's election as 1st Vice President.
I did so because this election far transcended the differences we have within our pilot group. As representatives of all United pilots, we still have more that binds us than what divides us. All of those threats that we face, at the global level and at the national level, we share in common. And those threats are real, are present,
and they are daunting!
As Captain Morse takes office at ALPA National, I am sincere in the hope that she can carry our voice -- the voice of all United pilots -- to that table to protect our interests. We need our voice to be heard!
We are all United pilots, and we must stand unified against those threats. If we don't stand together, we are certain to fall apart!
In unity,
Scott
C-57 Chairman &
Captain's Representative:
Captain Scott Combest
[email protected]
(714) 264-3626
C-57 Vice-Chairman &
First Officer's Representative:
Captain Brian Finley
[email protected]
(916) 508-7007
C-57
The ALPA National Election, What Really Happened?
On Wednesday, October 19, the Airline Pilots Association International made history by electing Captain Wendy Morse to the position of First Vice President. Captain Morse is the first female National officer in ALPA history. She has held a number of ALPA positions including, UAL MEC Chairman, UAL MEC Negotiating Committee, and UAL ALPA Council 12 Chairman.
The intrigue of ALPA politics tends to take on a life of its own so in the interest of pulling back the veil for the membership to see how the sausage is made, the following is an accurate account.
The way that National elections work is that each LEC officer, from each airline, casts the number of votes equal to the number of pilots they represent.
A total of 51,619 votes were possible on that day. Winning any position would require 25,810. The UAL MEC had a combined total vote of 11,297.
The first election was for ALPA National President. No experienced ALPA observers have ever seen a margin of victory this large, especially on the first round of voting. It is unprecedented.
Jason Ambrosi (DAL) 41,007
Todd Insler (UAL) 7,003
Bill Couette (EDV) 3,539
Immediately after the election of ALPA’s new president, Jason Ambrosi, nominations for the position of First Vice President had only one candidate, Captain Wes Reed (FEDEX). Prior to announcing the nominee, the body of the BOD called for a recess, a process break, so the 40 ish MEC’s could plan how they wanted to cast their next vote. Some members of the UAL MEC were insistent on having a United candidate on the ballot. The UAL MEC gathered to discuss.
Members of the MEC discussed potential candidates including current MEC Chairman, Mike Hamilton and MEC Secretary Paul Ryder. Chairman Hamilton said he would be willing to be the ALPA National First Vice President candidate if the MEC unanimously supported the idea.
In order to gain the necessary votes it was clear that the supporters of Captain Ambrosi would be necessary to support our candidate, after all, even if the UAL MEC voted unanimously that would only add up to 11,297 votes. The Delta MEC was not supportive of FDX CA Reed, nor could they support UAL Master Chairman Hamilton or Secretary Ryder because of their close association with former MEC Chairman Insler. When this news was reported back to the UAL MEC, Council 5 Chairman Larry Beck, addressed the group and explained that the MEC would have to coalesce if it wanted any position at ALPA National over the next four, possibly eight years.
The mood in the room was serious as members of the United MEC wrestled with the notion that United pilots could be shut-out of any national officer position. Members of the MEC began talking out loud as they worked through the idea at hand. Council 57 (LAX) Captain Representative, Scott Combest, a strong supporter of former MEC Chairman Todd Insler, suggested that Captain Wendy Morse’s name be floated for First Vice President. This idea was supported by Council 172 (CLE) Chairman, Josh Kallet.
Chairman Hamilton spoke out and asked CA Morse a pointed question, “Wendy, Do you want the job of 1st VP?”
Captain Morse replied, “Well, no one ever really WANTS these jobs.”
Chairman Hamilton quickly uttered, “Yeah, tell me about it!”
Council 93 (DENTK) Captain representative Chris Clay spoke affirmatively about Captain Morse being capable for the job and Council 34 (SFO) Captain representative Noel Ojeda nodded in agreement.
Captain Morse spoke up and asked Council 12 (ORD) Vice Chairman, Phil Anderson, what he thought. Anderson said that he thought it was a bad idea because Council 12 needed Morse in Chicago, and that the MEC will need her experience to help navigate the change coming to the MEC.
MEC Chair Mike Hamilton asked Wendy if she wanted to do it. She replied, “No, I really don’t want to do it but if you need me to I will serve.”
The MEC then unanimously agreed (by voice) to support Captain Morse as the UAL MEC’s choice for the national officer position of First Vice President.
The vote went as follows:
Wendy Morse (UAL) 26,557
Wes Reed (FDX) 18,150
Doug Grant (HAL) 6,912
For those who suggest that a calculated and deceptive political strategy was employed by Wendy Morse or by any of those who support her, the facts bear witness to such rhetoric being fiction.
If you have questions, you should ask the LEC supporters of ALPA National Presidential candidate Insler, you should ask your representatives, why did you guys ask Chairman Morse to run for the First Vice President position, and why did you agree to unanimously support her?
(See the Council 57 Update: From the Chairman, published on October 21, 2022)
October 21, 2022
Council 57 Update:
From the Chairman
Brothers and Sisters of Council 57,
Yesterday, the ALPA biennial Board of Directors (BOD) meeting concluded, as did our own MEC meeting that began last week. As you've probably read, Captain Jason Ambrosi of Delta Airlines was elected as our new ALPA President, and Captain Wendy Morse, UAL Council 12 Chair was elected as 1st Vice President.
With the election behind us, they both have my full support as the prepare to take their leadership positions in January.
This BOD is now history, and it turned out completely different than I ever imagined. As you know, I supported Todd Insler for President, who lost his election. As I state below, I supported Wendy Morse for Vice President. When that history is written, part of the story will be how the good ol’ bare-knuckle union campaigning crossed the line into a political assassination of a long-time ALPA volunteer who has helped the careers of thousands of United pilots. I was shocked at the behavior I witnessed at the BOD towards Todd. It is one thing to oppose the policies of a fellow pilot and campaign against them; it is another to attack them personally with mobile billboards and stickers touting outright falsehoods to score points.
What is done is done. The BOD has spoken. We thank all those who expressed a willingness to serve, and we now must move forward... together.
During our last council meeting, the importance of ALPA National office was mentioned. A few voices asked: Why does that matter?
Here's why it matters: Representation at the head table of ALPA National is essential to our interests. We are the largest pilot group within ALPA. United pilots pay more dues money to ALPA National than any other pilot group. In fact, if you take away the Delta pilot group, United pilots pay more dues money to ALPA than the rest of ALPA combined! We pay dearly for our representation, and to not have a voice at the head of that table would be a disaster for us.
United pilots are the Foundation of ALPA, not the doormat!
The threats to our collective interests have not gone away. If anything, they are more acute than ever, and as a group we have more to lose than anyone.
Within the U.S., United has more wide-body flying than Delta, American and any third pilot group you'd care to mention. That means United pilots face the greatest threat from the Flags of Convenience, Foreign Flag carriers and Cabotage. We all face common threats of Security, Safety and Reduced Crew Complement, but those other threats are most acute in the markets where United pilots fly.
To not have the United pilots' interests represented at the national and international level would have disastrous effects on our representation, from having a say on ALPA committees to influencing the direction of ALPA PAC. We pay for that representation. Either we use it or we lose it!
Flash forward to the VP Elections...
With the other offices all but decided, that left us with the 1st Vice President election. Several names from United were proposed with the other delegations, including Mike Hamilton's. All were declined. We were running out of options to secure a United seat at the National table.
Finally, late in the day and with the deadline for a vote approaching, I proposed Wendy Morse as a candidate. The other delegations were open to it. I then approached Wendy and said that the United pilots needed a candidate, and that she needed to do this! She agreed, and when the votes were finally tallied, Wendy Morse was elected as ALPA's 1st Vice President.
To be clear: I advocated for that candidacy, and I stand by my vote. The alternative of being shutout of National would have been far to costly for the United pilots I represent.
It is no secret that Wendy Morse and I have been on opposite sides of many debates at the MEC table since I took office in 2018. We have had fundamental disagreements over many issues, including the Pandemic Recovery LOA 20-05, Section 6 and the Tentative Agreement. And, in the face of my pointed advocacy, I imagine she would not object to my recall as the Captain's Representative in Council 57. So, I'm sure many of you are shocked that I would support Wendy Morse's election as 1st Vice President.
I did so because this election far transcended the differences we have within our pilot group. As representatives of all United pilots, we still have more that binds us than what divides us. All of those threats that we face, at the global level and at the national level, we share in common. And those threats are real, are present,
and they are daunting!
As Captain Morse takes office at ALPA National, I am sincere in the hope that she can carry our voice -- the voice of all United pilots -- to that table to protect our interests. We need our voice to be heard!
We are all United pilots, and we must stand unified against those threats. If we don't stand together, we are certain to fall apart!
In unity,
Scott
C-57 Chairman &
Captain's Representative:
Captain Scott Combest
[email protected]
(714) 264-3626
C-57 Vice-Chairman &
First Officer's Representative:
Captain Brian Finley
[email protected]
(916) 508-7007
C-57
10-22-2022, 03:07 PM
#3
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Posts: 3,123
10-22-2022, 03:59 PM
#4
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Joined APC: May 2022
Posts: 225
Jerry, it must’ve been difficult for you to write the narrative that reflected so positively on Wendy. I know your social/political capital will probably decrease having written this, so this is a profile in courage. Thank you for putting your own personal biases aside and giving us what clearly must be an objective account on what transpired
10-22-2022, 06:39 PM
#5
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Joined APC: Feb 2012
Posts: 222
you going to ask the same of 57 Officers?
Jerry, it must’ve been difficult for you to write the narrative that reflected so positively on Wendy. I know your social/political capital will probably decrease having written this, so this is a profile in courage. Thank you for putting your own personal biases aside and giving us what clearly must be an objective account on what transpired
10-22-2022, 07:55 PM
#7
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Joined APC: May 2022
Posts: 225
Is this the “Trump is jerk, so I must be a Hilary guy” kind of thinking?
The people that are critical of TI’s FTFPL mafia and yet support people who’ve been in the ALPA eco-system for DECADES are at best delusional, at worst they have a political agenda of their own.
The people that are critical of TI’s FTFPL mafia and yet support people who’ve been in the ALPA eco-system for DECADES are at best delusional, at worst they have a political agenda of their own.
10-22-2022, 08:18 PM
#8
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Posts: 2,516
10-23-2022, 09:12 AM
#9
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Joined APC: Dec 2005
Posts: 845
My favorite line from the post-
They sound like amateur versions of our politicians in DC.
“Chairman Hamilton spoke out and asked CA Morse a pointed question, “Wendy, Do you want the job of 1st VP?”
Captain Morse replied, “Well, no one ever really WANTS these jobs.”
Chairman Hamilton quickly uttered, “Yeah, tell me about it!”
They sound like amateur versions of our politicians in DC.
“Chairman Hamilton spoke out and asked CA Morse a pointed question, “Wendy, Do you want the job of 1st VP?”
Captain Morse replied, “Well, no one ever really WANTS these jobs.”
Chairman Hamilton quickly uttered, “Yeah, tell me about it!”
10-23-2022, 01:34 PM
#10
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Joined APC: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,808
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