
Captain J.R. Lynch, MBA
"We are an advocate for your concerns and interests. It is our duty to remain engaged, and demand accountability, transparency, and progress in our union affairs."
ETHICS
PROGRESS
TRANSPARENCY
ACCOUNTABILITY
Trust the process. The future is still ours.
Your voice matters and we heard you loud and clear. The status quo is unacceptable. We are committed to remaining engaged with our union's affairs, advocating for your interests, and demanding accountability and fair representation from our elected union leadership.
STAY ENGAGED
A MESSAGE TO OUR 1,200 PILOTS.
A COMMITMENT TO ADVOCACY AND ETHICS
We remain committed to advocating for our interest and ensuring that your voice is heard. The voice of each and every pilot matters and must be heard. Our union leadership must be held accountable to their campaign promises of transparent and accountable leadership, improved collaborative collective bargaining, and significant progress towards a Tentative Agreement (TA) in 2024.
2024: THE YEAR OF ACTION
No Absolute Power: Checks and Balances
The continued consolidation of power and lack of diverse perspectives has never served us at APA 2118. Our 1,200 brothers and sisters across 23 bases deserve leadership that is not only focused and skilled but one that operates autonomously and embodies our varied interests. Our leadership must represent us and be accountable to us.
Our team is committed to vigilance and advocacy. We will monitor and constructively engage with our leadership to ensure they uphold the campaign promises of positive change and progress they have pledged. Nearly half of our pilots believed in a collective vision of positivity and progress; we will ensure that you continue to be heard.
A Stand For Ethics: Integrity Matters
We now focus on advocating for transparency and effective communication within our union. We are dedicated to ensuring that you are well-informed about the strategies and decisions that impact your morale, working conditions, union affairs, and your future.
You deserve to know the actions and plans of our leadership. We will continue to advocate for uncensored speech and will remain a sounding board for diverse and disparate ideas. Remaining committed and engaged is crucial to create a more inclusive and informed union environment.
Progress Matters: Secure Our Future
Our role now shifts to one of advocacy and oversight, demanding that our negotiation approach aligns with the interests of our pilot group. Our current negotiation strategy falls short of the industry standard necessary to achieve a Tentative Agreement (TA).
We advocate for a negotiation team equipped with both expertise and RLA experience, capable of achieving results that reflect industry parity and our collective needs. We will continue to demand that your interests are recognized.
Myth Busting: Contract Negotiations
Myth
There is absolutely nothing that can be done to accelerate negotiations. This is pace set by the RLA and NMB rules.
Verdict: False
That's simply not true. The RLA has never and will not set an unchangeable pace for our negotiations or mediation. The power of open, proactive communication, coupled with a collaborative approach, can greatly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our negotiation process. We are committed to ensuring that negotiations advance in a timely and constructive manner, ultimately securing the industry-standard Tentative Agreement (TA) that we rightfully deserve.
Myth
RLA laws specifically prohibit management and the union from talking outside of mediation, so we have to go with this 3 day/month pace.
Verdict: False
There are no restrictions under the RLA or from the NMB that prevent us from engaging in productive and comprehensive discussions, even with the mediator's blessing. Direct negotiation efforts are entirely permissible, especially when they can lead to productive outcomes. Contrary to the current strategy, our approach is to maximize every opportunity for dialogue and negotiation, extending beyond the confines of formal mediation sessions. By adopting a proactive and continuous engagement approach, we are poised to drive positive progress in our negotiations.
Myth
If we elected someone new, we're stuck with whatever terrible contract they negotiate.
Verdict: False
Your vote is exclusively yours. We can't take that away from you. Any Tentative Agreement (TA) will require your final approval, guaranteeing that every voice is heard and the final agreement aligns with our pilot's best interests and desires. Furthermore, pending IBT National approval, we will put recall vote ability in our by-laws immediately, empowering you to remove any of us from our positions if we fail to deliver on our promises.
Myth
Our elected leaders have done all they can, there obviously isn't anything more that can be done.
Verdict: False
While we acknowledge the efforts of our current representatives, there is significant room for improvement in our approach to complex negotiations. Our strategy includes hiring attorneys and negotiators with specialized expertise in the Railway Labor Act (RLA), who can bring both in-depth knowledge and fresh perspectives. We are committed to engaging in comprehensive and realistic contract discussions with the company. It's essential to utilize all available avenues in our pursuit of securing an excellent contract for our pilots.
![[VIDEO] A Bright Future, Together.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0c87bf_5e6c56362c6c4a2c8139df045ee1cfbb~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_333,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_35,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/0c87bf_5e6c56362c6c4a2c8139df045ee1cfbb~mv2.webp)
![[VIDEO] A Bright Future, Together.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0c87bf_5e6c56362c6c4a2c8139df045ee1cfbb~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_413,h_310,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_avif,quality_auto/0c87bf_5e6c56362c6c4a2c8139df045ee1cfbb~mv2.webp)

