January 26, 2012

Really?

I echo FDX MEC Chairman Captain Stratton’s comments in his earlier communication regarding the recent missive from Local Council 7. We have all witnessed in the past how when portions of our union are dissatisfied with the majority, they then take it to the streets so to speak. If that is how the Local Council Chairman and Vice Chairman presume to pursue their “grievances,” so be it. Problem is, and Scott stated it, that we can already hear the glasses of Scotch clinking and the Cohibas being lit up over on Hacks Cross.

First and foremost, if you have any questions or desire further discussion, I strongly urge all of you to engage your respective Status Block Representative. They speak for you as the MEC when in session and as such they are best able to communicate what it is that they believe to be accurate and truthful, either way.

So my fellow ALPA brothers who I have known and worked with for over 14 years in struggles in gaining a better work environment and benefits for FDX pilots, have chosen a path that they themselves have historically cautioned not to do. So be it. Now, to answer a few of their allegations.

“Management of your money.” I couldn’t agree more with that statement. It is your money; money hard earned and committed to allowing us, you and I, to be able to support contractual bargaining, defending those gains and protecting our professional lives as prudently as possible from degradation be it by industry or governmental action. As both Captains Baker and Hauserman have stated, they were former FPA and FDX ALPA Secretary-Treasurers. In fact, much of what is currently in our MEC Policy Manual was put in place during their respective terms of office. Obviously, since those days the MEC has streamlined and tightened our Policy Manual, but it still contains the very safeguards and processes that ensure due process and diligence is observed. Any member can access this manual on our FDX ALPA website. MEC officer transition was the same as was when they themselves “transitioned” into and out of office. As record keeping isn’t as accurate as we currently employ at the MEC, they have stated they complied with those provisions, yet we have no evidence of such, but we have no reason to doubt our fellow ALPA volunteers. As to the officer turnover in 2011, the then stated policy was followed. In fact, the incoming Vice Chairman was a current Status Block Representative who was also a former Communications Committee Chairman, which means he was intimately familiar with the workings of the MEC. The outgoing Vice Chairman, per the Policy Manual made himself available throughout the following 30 days after leaving office. When first discussing the transition with Captain Baker, he was completely unfamiliar with transition requirements of notifying the company of a change in pay status. Section 18.B.1.b.iii. requires a 30-day written notice of a change of pay status. It would have been a bit presumptuous of the officer in question who was running for reelection to believe his status was changing, which it did. Since that day, and at the behest of Captains Baker and Hauserman, those revisions that they themselves enjoyed have been altered so that the transition is more pre term commencement as opposed to post.

“Flight Pay Loss over a Holiday.” Again, as we have very little documented evidence that would indicate such adherence when they themselves were in office, we shall assume what they have stated as to be accurate (this lack of accurate detailed record keeping was addressed and formalized 30 months ago when we came to office). That being said, and again in a MEC Policy Manual that finds its roots in the days when both Captains Baker and Hauserman were FPA/MEC Secretary-Treasurers, Flight Pay Loss for FDX pilots who conduct Association business is and has been authorized and approved per that manual as well as the ALPA Administration Manual. In fact, at FDX ALPA we conduct semi-annual reviews of flight pay loss and other economic issues through an internal Financial Review Committee that is comprised of one sitting MEC Representative (who is elected by the other MEC Representatives) and two members at large. They report directly to the MEC and the membership. One would think that if something were amiss that it would have surely been caught before these two gentlemen took office last Fall. Yet there hasn’t been one instance of such. Similarly, some 30 months ago, in 2009 the then Financial Oversight Committee had not conducted any review or “audit” in over 2 years! We changed that when we first took office, and the work they have done thus far is beyond reproach. The recent Policy Manual change that addresses FPL removal over specified holidays in all likelihood will not impede union representation in those months. But, when first proposed, it appeared that Captain Baker and Hauserman were of a mind that there was no Association business conducted at those times. I wonder what the pilots of HKG would say.

“The “flawed” budget process.” Again, it appears the Local Council 7 Chairman and Vice Chairman are saying that the other 11 Status Block Representatives have either been asleep at the wheel or negligent in their fiscal responsibilities. As can been seen on the FDX ALPA Secretary-Treasurer’s portion of the website, the calendar years 2011 and 2012 budgets are there for all to see and compare. Likewise, the committee expenditures are there for 2011. Also, you will find the monthly breakdown of total costs for each month for 2011. Each year at the 4^th Quarter Regularly Scheduled MEC Meeting, the budget for the following year is presented and briefed to the MEC. Prior to that meeting the budget is provided to the MEC so that they are better prepared to ask intelligent questions and make recommendations, if any. That occurred for this year. You decide. And again, I agree it is your money.

“Pilot Involvement.” I know that my two friends are referring to being you, the line pilot, involvement, but I want to enlarge that to union work. While not necessarily a pure MEC Secretary-Treasurer’s area of responsibility, it is a mission of mine that we recruit, retain and care for  as much as possible those who have an opportunity to commit to working in the seldom appreciated world of the union. Just volunteering to take on some of the responsibility is in itself a big undertaking for pilots who would normally take off their uniforms and go home to their families. These jobs are already hard enough. What we don’t need is Status Block Representatives making it any harder because of some preconceived notion or agenda. I find it also my job to protect those pilots from that harm at all costs. I, too, find it disturbing that these two men would find it totally appropriate to publically attack those valued FDX ALPA pilots who happen to volunteer their time to all of us. I get the disagreements, we are, after all type A personalities, but much like families, we should resolve it at the table not on the street corner.  How are we to recruit or even retain pilots if all they can expect is to be criticized and chastised in the public medium for just doing their jobs?

I am going to end with this. Debate, discourse and yes, disagreement is acceptable and understood. We deal with it every day both as a union and as professional pilots. As anyone who has been lucky enough to spend a day observing the MEC tackle difficult issues can attest, debates are seldom without issue. There is not always 100% agreement. As a former Status Block Representative, I have been party to some serious discussions with legitimate issues at hand, with personalities that were determined to further their position, even with these two individuals over the years. Tempers do flare, feelings do rise, but in the end, professional courtesy and decorum must prevail. I don’t see that here, and like Captain Stratton, I find it unsavory we are forced to discuss their misaligned statements and what they define as fact in such a medium. All because of what? Because they don’t like the answers they have been provided? Because they believe they alone know what is in the best interests of our members?  It will take all of us - line pilots, committee volunteers, Status Block Representatives, MEC Officers and ALPA staff working together, cohesively if we are to continue to achieve the rightful gains FDX pilots deserve.

Respectfully,

Sean

Captain Sean P McDonald

FDX MEC Secretary-Treasurer