Block 1 and 4 Message

Officer Turnover Agenda Item

February 13, 2012

To Local Council 7 Members:

Questions have arisen regarding why Tony and I have brought up the issue of how the current administration has dealt with MEC Officer turnover and why we have questioned their ethics and judgment regarding this matter. We hope this clarifies the issue.

Shortly after we were elected, Tony and I identified the practice instituted by the current administration regarding MEC officer turnover as, at the very least, a questionable use of the members’ dues money. To be clear, the MEC policy manual language has been unchanged from as far back as 2002. It is only the interpretation and application of the language by this administration that has changed to allow outgoing officers to be paid a full month’s salary to stay at home.

As we have discussed in previous communications, we brought this issue to the attention of the MEC Chairman and Secretary Treasurer back in September. Disappointingly, their reaction was to attempt to justify the practice and force us to offer a resolution to the entire MEC to rewrite the policy manual language. That resolution was finally passed by an overwhelming majority of the MEC at the January MEC meeting and will be published as part of the minutes from that meeting.

Agenda Item #12-04

Subject: Policy Manual Change—Officer Transition

Resolution #12-02

WHEREAS with regard to MEC officer transitions there has been a use of flight pay loss that does not offer value to the pilots or the Association, and

WHEREAS the spirit and intent of the MEC officer transition provision of the MEC policy manual was to have a face-to-face, in-office turnover,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Section III.B.2 be changed as follows:

B.   ELIGIBILITY FOR OFFICE AND TERM OF OFFICE

1.    Eligibility for office and term of office for the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary/Treasurer will be as prescribed by the ALPA Constitution and By-Laws.

2.     Officer Transition

a.    Incoming FDX MEC Officers are authorized flight pay loss for up to 10 working days the month prior to the start of their elected term of office for the purpose of providing a transition between incoming and outgoing MEC officers.

b.    The number of working days allotted for the transition, if any, should be tailored to the particular needs and desires of the incoming MEC Officer.

c.    Incoming MEC Officers will fly back trip removal in excess of the allotted transition period in accordance with Section VII.A.2 of the Policy Manual. 

d.    The reference to “transition” means a face-to-face, in the office transition.

2.  Outgoing FDX Officers are authorized flight pay loss for the entire month following the month in which their elected term of office expires for the purpose of providing a transition between the incoming and outgoing MEC Officers.  The outgoing Officers are strongly encouraged to fly back their union leave if the transition occurs in an expeditious manner.

We hope this addresses your questions regarding this issue.

Your union/your voice,