ALPA's Executive Board Convenes

By Gavin Francis, Staff Writer
Air Line Pilot, June/July 2004, p.21

Members of the 93rd ALPA Executive Board met in Washington, D.C., in late May to consider several significant issues, including a candidate endorsement for the upcoming presidential election in November.

The Executive Board is made up of master executive council chairmen from each of ALPA’s 42 airline pilot groups. The Board meets twice a year to review and establish ALPA policies, and has the authority to control the Association’s general management and business affairs in accordance with ALPA’s Constitution and By-Laws.

The meeting took place at the Washington Court Hotel over a 2-day period, during which committee members debated issues and drafted language before submitting resolutions for a vote by the full Executive Board. What follows is a brief summary of agenda items that the Board acted on:

 Presidential Endorsement: The Executive Board voted unanimously to endorse Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) for president of the United States.

 Review of ALPA’s Administrative Manual: After thorough review, the Executive Board voted to amend several sections of ALPA’s Administrative Manual. These included the following:

—Section 60—The committee reviewing the accounting and finance policies contained in this section identified several policies that needed to be amended to clarify them or make them conform to administrative practice, plus policies that needed to be amended to comply with the Association’s current financial restructuring. Part 1.C.2 was amended to allow an MEC that is required to negotiate and administer multiple contracts with separate seniority lists for two or more airlines to be treated as separate MECs with specific procedures for funding operations. The MEC will continue to function in all other respects as a single MEC. This amendment addresses current issues at the Continental/ExpressJet MEC.

—Section 15, Parts 2 and 3—These parts pertain specifically to the Information Systems and Services Department and the policies it administers. Review of the section revealed that many policies needed to be updated, and that the section could be reorganized so that the information could be more easily understood.

—Section 80, Parts 1,4,5, and 6—Review of ALPA’s safety policies contained in this section was undertaken to update existing policy or propose new policies based on changes in the aviation system or changes in Association views on safety issues.

 ALPA Web Board Policy: The Executive Board voted to amend ALPA’s Administrative Manual to include a policy that establishes provisions for member access to, usage of, and termination from ALPA message boards.

 Use of Copyrighted Material: The Executive Board voted to amend ALPA’s Administrative Manual, prohibiting ALPA representatives and staff from reprinting or otherwise publishing copyrighted material without the written permission of the copyright holder.

 Operating Contingency Fund Grant: The Executive Board voted to grant the America West Airlines MEC $493,292 to implement a comprehensive and strategic communications plan to counter the decertification efforts of the America West Pilots Association.

 ALPA Polling and Survey Policy: The Executive Board voted to amend ALPA’s Administrative Manual to include a policy for procedures and practices for polling ALPA membership.

 Age 60 Benefits Bridge: The Executive Board reaffirmed its desire to obtain necessary changes to Medicare and Social Security laws and directed that a report be provided to the September Executive Board.

 ALPA-Sponsored Health Plan: After accepting a report from ALPA’s Retirement and Insurance Committee, the Executive Board voted not to act on a proposal to develop an ALPA-sponsored multiemployer health plan for its members, indicating that such action is not currently feasible.

 National Security Committee Structure Review: The Executive Board voted to create a committee appointed by ALPA’s president to review the National Security Committee structure, work program, and lines of authority, responsibility, and staff support. The committee will report its findings to the September 2004 Executive Board.

 Amendment to ALPA’s Constitution and By-Laws: The Executive Board voted to recommend to ALPA’s Board of Directors that Article IV, Section 6, and Article VII, Section 8, of ALPA’s Constitution and By-Laws be amended to allow vice-chairmen to act as proxy in MEC meetings whenever designated by a representative who is unable to attend. These amendments will be sent to ALPA’s Board of Directors by mail ballot—such proposed amendments require a two-thirds vote of the BOD on a roll-call basis of valid ballots returned by the BOD.

 Executive Board and Board of Directors Processing of National Committee Reports: The Executive Board voted to amend Section 71, Part 1.B, of ALPA’s Administrative Manual with respect to Executive Board review of BOD National Committee Report agenda items.

 ALPA Computer Purchase Policy: The Executive Board voted to amend ALPA’s Administrative Manual to broaden the computer purchasing policy, enabling designated LEC committee members to more efficiently accomplish Association work.

 Major Contingency Fund (MCF) Authorizations: The Executive Board voted to allocate $500,000 from the MCF for the Gemini MEC strike preparedness program. The Gemini MEC will submit a financial operating plan to the Executive Council. ALPA’s president will appoint a Strike Oversight Board for the MEC.

The Executive Board also voted to allocate $2 million from the MCF to the Continental MEC for the Express-Jet strike preparedness, communications, and family awareness programs. The Continental MEC will submit a financial operating plan to the Executive Council. ALPA’s president will appoint a Strike Oversight Board for the MEC.

 Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) Program and National Security Committee Policy: The Executive Board voted that ALPA’s president and Government Affairs Department, in consultation with ALPA’s National Security Committee, will administer and coordinate all legislative activity on FFDO and flight security issues.