October 31, 2024
ALPA Board of Directors Convenes in Chicago for 50th Regular Meeting
Local council status reps for ALPA’s 41 pilot groups assembled this week with the Association’s national officers, ALPA Canada president, and executive vice presidents (EVPs) for the union’s 50th regular Board of Directors (BOD) meeting. As ALPA’s highest governing body, the BOD convened for this landmark event in Chicago, Ill., the city where the Association was established in 1931.
Throughout the three-day event, BOD delegates acted on two dozen resolutions, seven of which were proposed amendments to the union’s Constitution & By-Laws. The packed agenda also included special guests such as AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, Canadian Labour Congress President Bea Bruske, and Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI); presentations from the union’s national committee chairs, and strategic planning. ALPA Canada president Capt. Tim Perry reported on activities and accomplishments above the 49th parallel, and ALPA president Capt. Jason Ambrosi engaged in a fireside chat with three former ALPA presidents—Capt. Randy Babbitt (1991–1998), Capt. Duane Woerth (1999–2006), and Capt. John Prater (2007–2010).
Several awards were presented throughout the week, including honorary ALPA memberships to two former department directors: Engineering & Air Safety’s Keith Hagy and Representation’s Bruce York. The ALPA Political Action Committee (ALPA-PAC) also presented its annual awards, with the FedEx Express MEC receiving the 2024 J.J. O’Donnell Trophy for Excellence in Political Action.
The BOD meeting began with reports from all four national officers. In his address, Ambrosi presented a comprehensive look at the work achieved since his administration took office as well as the challenges that lie ahead. “The accomplishments of our Association over the past two years cannot be overstated,” he said. “We have grown, defined policy decisions at the highest levels of government, fulfilled our role as international leaders in the labor movement and aviation safety, negotiated some of the strongest contracts in the history of our industry, and returned value to our members unlike ever before.”
Highlighting the work of the ALPA Air Safety Organization, ALPA first vice president Capt. Wendy Morse remarked, “I am incredibly proud to be part of a union that remains dedicated to the safety, security, and well-being of every member we represent.” Giving special attention to several recent safety and security events, she added, “Our commitment to one another, to our profession, and to the values that define us as an organization has never been more important.”
Vice president–administration/secretary Capt. Sean Creed commented on the administration’s efforts to bring ALPA policies and practices more in line with current lifestyles and technological developments. Stressing the need to promote pilot participation in the union, he said, “We have the largest membership in our Association’s history. However, to continue the success we’ve achieved, we will also need to maintain comparable—if not greater—levels of member volunteerism.”
Capt. Wes Clapper, ALPA’s vice president–finance/treasurer reported on the Association’s strong financial position, noting the administration’s success in updating policies providing pilot groups with access to greater resources. He also acknowledged the union’s first-of-its-kind, across-the-board offer to return dues. “As great as this Association is,” he said in closing his report, “I believe working together we can make it even better.”
BOD Delegates Elect Latest Slate of ALPA Executive Vice Presidents
During this week’s meeting, the ALPA Board of Directors conducted executive vice president (EVP) elections. Status reps for Election Groups A, B, and C held caucuses the morning of October 30 to select individuals who will serve as members of the union’s Executive Council for two years beginning January 1, 2025.
ALPA's newly elected executive vice presidents.
Pilot groups that fall under Group A have at least 4,000 active members in good standing or have projected annualized dues incomes of at least $10,000,000. The following were elected as EVPs for ALPA’s Group A carriers:
- Air Canada: Capt. Stu Jones (reelected)
- Alaska: Capt. Jeff Schroeder
- Delta: Capt. Reed Donoghue
- FedEx Express: Capt. Bill Secord (reelected)
- JetBlue: Capt. Jason Graves
- Spirit: Capt. Andy Nelson (reelected)
- United: Capt. Chris Jones (reelected)
Election Group B pilot groups have less than 4,000 active members in good standing and have projected annualized dues incomes of less than $10,000,000. Group B is divided among three subgroups. The following were elected as Group B EVPs:
- B1: Capt. Jade Schiewe (EDV) (reelected) will represent Air Transportation International, Amerijet International, Endeavor Air, Frontier Airlines, Piedmont Airlines, and Ravn Alaska.
- B2: Capt. Doug Grant (HAL) (reelected) will represent Air Wisconsin, Breeze Airways, Envoy Air, Hawaiian Airlines, and Mesa Air Group.
- B3: Capt. Ray Burton (PSA) will represent CommuteAir, Kalitta Air, PSA Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, and Western Global Airlines.
The Group C EVP represents all of ALPA’s Canadian pilot groups except Air Canada. These include Air Inuit, Air Transat, Calm Air, Canadian North, CargoJet, Flair Airlines, Jazz Aviation, Keewatin Air, Kelowna Flightcraft, Morningstar Air Express, PAL Aerospace, PAL Airlines, Pascan Aviation, Perimeter Aviation, Pivot Airlines, Wasaya Airways, WestJet Airlines, and WestJet Encore. Capt. James Harding (WSG) was elected to this position.
In addition, Capt. Gilles Boissonneault (ACA) was elected to serve the ALPA Canada Board as vice president and International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations director to fill a vacancy in the position.
Look for additional details about the ALPA BOD meeting in the November/December 2024 issue of Air Line Pilot magazine.
-###-