ALPA’s 108th Executive Board Convenes Addressing the challenges ALPA
pilots face today and those to come, ALPA’s elected leadership gathered for the
108th Executive Board meeting to move forward resolutions that will position the
union to seamlessly overcome those hurdles.
“This is a new decade,” said Capt. Lee Moak, ALPA’s president. “We are a
single group of ALPA leaders. How we govern together is how we lead. We must
pool our experiences and share our knowledge. We must clearly state our goals
and objectives. We will commit to working harder to earn and keep the respect of our
members.”
Capt. Moak also welcomed the pilots of Canadian North as ALPA’s 39th member
airline. The merger between the 106 pilots and ALPA is effective May 1.
“Through this merger, we strengthen ALPA’s position as the preeminent voice
of airline pilots across North America,” Capt. Moak said. “Through this merger,
the Canadian North flight crewmembers are well-positioned to advance their
goals, including their ongoing contract negotiations, with the full support,
resources, and voice of the world’s most powerful pilots union.”
Capt. Chris Kampen and Capt. John Hankirk of Canadian
North were recognized and received a standing ovation from the board.
Capt. Sean Cassidy, first vice president of ALPA, thanked the members of the
Executive Board for their leadership roles and said they—and all of ALPA’s pilot
representatives—are an integral part of the union’s numerous accomplishments.
“ALPA’s formula for success is unmatched in the world of pilot associations,”
Capt. Cassidy said during his officer report. “We are a membership-run,
staff-supported organization—and because of this, we are truly the voice of
commercial aviation in North America and the world.”
Speaking to several topics—the importance of ALPA-PAC, the union’s safety
structure, international issues, building alliances within the industry, and a
number of current legislative priorities—Capt. Cassidy illustrated the breadth
and depth of ALPA’s expertise and agenda.
ALPA vice president of administration Capt. Bill Couette, in his officer
report, gave an overview of membership numbers and provided updates on important
policy changes to the Association’s Administrative Manual regarding technology
and streamlining language for committees.
He updated the group on the highly successful Leadership Conference and
membership seminars held earlier this year, where ALPA trains its leaders in all
aspects to aptly serve their members regardless of the challenges they might
face.
Offering a much-anticipated update, Capt. Couette said the ALPA iPhone app is
available, with a Droid version coming online at the end of April and a
Blackberry version ready in May. These advancements are important developments,
he said, so ALPA members can stay connected to our union.
Capt. Randy Helling, vice president of finance, reported on budgetary
matters, thanking the leaders in the room for their “prudent fiscal management.”
He continued, “Thanks to your collective efforts, sound planning, and smart
resource management, ALPA’s finances are stable.”
Capt. Helling reported that the union was beginning to see gradual
improvements and at the same time continuing to provide unparalleled resources
and expertise to ALPA members.
Challenges are still aplenty: fuel price volatility, uncertainty in the
financial markets around the world, airline consolidation—all have implications
for the airline industry and ALPA members.
The Executive Board adjourned into its four designated committees to receive
updates from staff, discuss agenda items, and develop resolutions for Executive
Board consideration.
The meeting is being held April 28-29 in Washington, D.C. |