Weighing In: Welcome, Class of 2016!

By Capt. Bill Couette, ALPA Vice President–Administration/Secretary

Last month I had the honor of welcoming the newest “class” of ALPA pilot leaders during our annual Leadership Training Conference. We had a huge turnout, in part because of the large number of new local council officers who began their terms of office on March 1. For our more than 52,000 members, it’s essential that you know who your rep is and how to contact him or her so that you have a voice in this union. You put your trust in them, and they have your proxy when ALPA decisions need to be made.

Part of my responsibility as ALPA’s vice president–administration/secretary is to ensure that these union officers have the information and resources to best represent our members. The Leadership Training Conference is just one of the ways we equip them to effectively perform their duties. In one of my presentations, I drew from my own experience to explain the different roles local council officers perform within the Association and how they can expect to spend the bulk of their time.

I know this information is just as important as understanding concepts like the duty of fair representation or knowing how to conduct a proper meeting. I know this because it wasn’t that long ago that I was a new rep “getting my feet wet” as part of Envoy’s (then American Eagle’s) Chicago council.

Managing the frequency and consistency of this training is important because ALPA is constantly changing. The union continues to merge with and organize nonunion pilot groups, airlines hire new pilots, members transition from one carrier to another, and others retire. As of the conference, our elected pilot leaders represent 95 local councils, which consist of nearly 25,000 captains and 28,000 first officers, and more than 100 second officers (or professional flight engineers).

As I’ve noted, local council officers are elected to act on your behalf. However, local captain and first officer status reps serve as members of your pilot group’s master executive council, and their responsibilities don’t stop there. They also act as members of ALPA’s Board of Directors (BOD), the Association’s highest governing body. The BOD determines ALPA’s policies and direction, and is the only group with the authority to amend the union’s Constitution and By-Laws. Therefore, these reps have a responsibility to all ALPA members.

During the conference, I outlined five tasks that all local council officers perform as part of their daily routine. It’s equally important that you be familiar with these functions so that you know what to expect. Your reps

  • communicate with members about what’s happening in the union. Communication is a two-way street and it’s also your responsibility to talk to your officers about your priorities and concerns. Only by sharing this information can ALPA speak for its members and the airline piloting profession.
  • represent pilots. They attend ALPA meetings, interact with the company on behalf of the pilot group, and accompany members under investigation or facing discipline.
  • recruit volunteers. Elected reps constantly look for subject-matter experts to perform the work of ALPA’s extensive committee structure. A strong pilot network makes for a strong union, and officers also need to keep an eye open for possible successors to mentor.
  • serve as resources for their members. Reps need to have a reasonable familiarity with their contracts, their pilot groups’ policy manuals, as well as pertinent sections of ALPA’s Constitution and By-Laws and the Association’s Administrative Manual.
  • conduct the business of the union, whether that’s budgeting for activities, filing reports, or conducting local council meetings.

These are typical activities, but don’t be fooled. Demands of the job can change based on the needs of the pilot group, and there are times when there is no end to the workday. Our elected leaders—and their families—make a significant commitment and sacrifice to represent our Association.

Thanks to the Class of 2016 for stepping up to serve ALPA and helping us make this union the best it can be. Your fresh perspective and skills will particularly be needed as we prepare for this fall’s BOD meeting.

This article was originally published in the April 2016 issue of Air Line Pilot.

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