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Fellow ALPA Pilots:
Today, I am honored and humbled to begin my term as President of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l. As the world's largest pilots' union, we are 67,000 members strong and proudly represent the finest aviators in the U.S. and Canada. Over the next four years, we will build upon our 90-plus-year history and continue to advance our profession and promote the power of unionism. As a member of ALPA, you deserve a labor leader who understands the unique issues that impact our careers and industry, recognizes the generational changes occurring within our union, and works collaboratively to get the job done.
Like many of you, I started my career at a regional carrier. I was hired by Delta in 2000, just 18 months before 9/11 would change our industry forever. When Delta filed for bankruptcy, I lost my pension and was furloughed. While on furlough, I worked for a charter airline where I advocated for labor and built a strong safety culture. This experience provided invaluable perspective and taught me that leadership can be found at carriers of all sizes and across international borders.
Prior to furlough, I served as a local council representative, and upon returning to Delta, I flew the line. When Delta pilots turned down an inadequate contract in 2015, I knew it was time to get involved again in my union and work toward returning our Association to the bottom-up principles upon which it was founded. After serving as Membership Chair, Strategic Planning Vice Chair, MEC Secretary, and ALPA Executive Vice President, I was elected Delta MEC Chair in January 2021. During my time on the MEC, airlines emerged from COVID stronger than ever, and our MEC had some work to do. In addition to COVID protections for our members, we were vocal about bringing attention to Delta's fatiguing scheduling practices that harmed not only our pilots but our customers alike. The MEC challenged Delta management to address the outsourcing of international flying, and we were able to achieve industry-first global scope protections, as well as a long overdue industry-leading Tentative Agreement in comprehensive contract negotiations.
Since the start of the pandemic recovery, pilots across the industry continue to feel the impact of management's overly ambitious scheduling practices and foot-dragging in negotiations. Our collective frustration has resulted in record-breaking informational picketing events. I was proud to stand in solidarity with thousands of pilots from multiple airlines to send a clear message to the traveling public and airline management: It is time to recognize pilots for our significant contributions as frontline leaders.
It is this same commitment that I will bring to the office of President. There is no doubt that the work we accomplish over the next four years will shape our profession for decades to come. We must redouble our efforts on the regulatory front and continue to harness the power of our union to protect pilot jobs. As pilots, we face many threats to our careers in the years ahead, some predictable and others unforeseen:
- Reduced crews and single pilot operations: Regardless of the creativity its proponents use, “reduced-crew operations,” “extended minimum crew,” or something else entirely, we know that the best safety tool onboard an aircraft is a minimum of two well-trained, highly qualified pilots on the flight deck at all times. We will not allow profits to be put ahead of safety.
- Achieve superior contracts: Rather than reward shareholders with stock buybacks, it's time for management to invest in its true stakeholders: pilots. Increase much-needed collaboration not only among ALPA pilot groups but also others to raise the bar for all our members. By working together, we succeeded in putting the classic “us vs. them” mentality behind us. To that end, I've tasked the ALPA Collective Bargaining Committee with meeting in person and continuing to hold regular meetings.
- Visa misuse: Airlines should not be allowed to misuse visas to hire foreign workers to artificially deflate wages and work rules and threaten U.S. and Canadian pilots' job security. We must use all appropriate means necessary to prevent management from seeking cheap foreign labor.
- First officer qualifications: Rolling back or weakening first officer qualification and training requirements is dangerous and unacceptable. ALPA will continue to defend against any actions that could erode these standards.
While the list above highlights many of our challenges ahead, it is by no means comprehensive. We face many pressing issues including fostering a new generation of commercial airline pilots that better reflects the communities we serve, addressing issues with the Known Crewmember (KCM) program, mandating secondary barriers, and fighting for Railway Labor Act and bankruptcy reform. To accomplish our goals, we will get back to basics: our power starts with you. ALPA is a bottom-up organization, and the varied experiences of every pilot will shape our collective goals. Make sure your voice is heard by participating as a union member. Attend LEC meetings, vote in elections, share your feedback with your elected reps, and consider volunteering your time to serve your fellow pilots.
I begin my term with optimism for our Association and our profession. I am optimistic that our power, driven by our unity and solidarity, will result in significant improvements in the careers and lives of our members. Just as I believe that serving fellow pilots is our union's highest calling, I also believe I have a responsibility to remain a current and qualified pilot. To that end, I plan to maintain my currency as a 767ER captain over the next four years. Working with my fellow officers on both sides of the border and hard-working staff, we will deliver the best possible representation for every ALPA member. Our respective airlines may impact what we fly and where, but we share a love of aviation and desire to leave the profession better than we found it.
In Unity,
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