EWR73FO

Post? You are smokin the ganja. Pre? Definitely. Which is way so many of us at lcal can't understand why the lual guys are so adamant to take what we see as two steps back.

SpecialTracking

I think UalHvy was referring to the operational aspect. Yes, we were a much better airline then. This place has taken a huge nose dive in regards to that. I would dare to say that your operation has hit the skids as well.

If the two steps back comment was referring to the TA vote, the answer is simple. There is a large block of lual pilots who do not trust the lcal mec, UCH mgt, and a portion of the silent lcal pilot group in separate form. When those three combine, the mistrust grows by an exponential factor. I am not making an argument for or against the validity of the lual pilot beliefs, but that is what is driving a lot of the vote.

Maxepr1

And why would a Cal guy trust the UAL Mec?

APC225

Chicago Strike Committee:

As most of you are probably aware, the SPSC Chairman/P2P JFK) was asked to step down as a member of P2P in JFK. Consequently, he tendered his resignation as the JFK Strike Chair which was accepted by the MEC SPSC Chairman. During the EWR road show, wearing plain clothes and not identifying himself as a member of P2P or SPSC, he stood simply as a 25 year pilot for United Airlines and expressed his concerns about the tentative agreement presented by the MEC to be accepted or rejected by the pilot body. This catalyst was the trigger for his dismissal.

With this consideration, I am stepping down as the ORD Strike Chair and as a member of the P2P team in Chicago. Last night, I submitted my resignation effective immediately. To be clear, this is not an indictment of the TA, rather a rebuttal of the process upon which the MEC chose to wage the ratification process.

I accepted my first position as an ALPA volunteer shortly after the 2003 bankruptcy. As a matter of principle, I vowed to never allow or participate in another situation where few individuals or a single Master Chairman operated unilaterally, while stifling or completely eradicating any opposing view. Inherently I believe this to be extremely dangerous to our careers and profession as was demonstrated during that time. As I believe is our duty, he confronted what he and many others consider to be a flawed TA, and expressed his views. Although he has contributed countless hours, days and years of volunteer work of behalf of ALPA, he stood at that moment as a member of Council 52, at his road show, expressing his opinion as a member in good standing with ALPA.

This is not the first time I have expressed my concern to the MEC about operating in a fashion where any dissenting opinion is cast aside, or completely ignored. Doing so completely undermines the principles of CRM that arguably prevented countless accidents over the years. Yet somehow, it seems justified to abandon those principles when you leave the flight deck.

It has always been my belief that a well-informed pilot group will ultimately make the right decision on any matter placed before them. Rigorous debate is vital to that process. The Tentative Agreement should withstand that debate if it is in fact viable. Any attempt to obfuscate the facts by either side of an issue is not helpful. However, I trust the pilot group is capable of separating the fact from fiction, the rational from irrational, and the understatements from the hyperbole.

For the remainder of the P2P group in Chicago, do not misconstrue this as a call to arms. This is a value-based judgment and a promise I made to myself and the pilots I represented in any capacity. In a way, it is my personal Hippocratic Oath where I promised to “do no harm” to the pilot group. Continuing in my current capacity implicitly endorses the actions taken and opposes that vow. For the reasons stated above, I feel this path is treacherous not only to the pilot group at United, but also to ALPA as a whole.

By volunteering to join the Chicago Strike Committee, I am guessing that you, like me, wanted to become a part of the solution to the problems plaguing our profession. By taking that step, whether it be by walking a picket line, passing out flyers, attending shareholder meetings, or simply being available, you took on a responsibility that some shirk; namely, the responsibility to protect your own career. That is accomplished only if we remain vigilant at all levels.

In the end, regardless of my personal feelings on this TA, I cannot and will not support silencing the views expressed by either side on this issue before us. The SPSC Chairman/P2P JFK has taken the step just like you. Like you he has taken it upon himself to protect the viability of our vocation. He immersed himself in the contract and posited real concerns that should serve to expand the discussion for the betterment of us all. Sanctioning his actions accelerates the move toward linear or group think.

For continuity, I requested our Vice-Chairman for SPSC in Chicago to take over my position, pending approval of the MEC SPSC Chairman. I’ve known him for many years now and flew with him on the A320. He has been excellent counsel to me, particularly in the past six months, and I have no doubt in his ability to serve the pilots and ALPA. You can expect I will provide any assistance he needs in the transition.

It has been an honor to be a part of your team. Stay involved. Make this career your own. Make this union your own.

Fraternally,
Chicago Strike Chair

oldmako

With the single exception of a larger route network, I can't think of one area in which this airline is better than sUAL was (after exiting bankruptcy). Operationally the new UAL has become a joke, and many of our high paying international customers are leaving.

And what do you have against ganja?

SpecialTracking

Actions speak louder than words of the lcal side.

- Phase training
- Pay banding (refusing to sign a dal/nwa side letter)
- Profit sharing/grievance award
*blocking of lual filing a grievance against
- LOA 25

to name a few.


btw, I voted no.

uaav8r

Because the UAL MEC hasn't done anything that would cause a CAL guy to lose their trust. Not so with regard to the CAL MEC.


btw, I voted Yes

SpecialTracking

.........

untied

You don't have to trust them, just know that the L-UAL side will be running the MEC when the merger is complete. We simply have the majority.

syd111

But many ual pilots have lost trust in the ual mec.