Attendees of ALPA’s Leadership Training Conference pose for a photo in the lobby of the Association’s McLean, Va., offices.

Do you know the rules for running an efficient meeting? Do you understand the process for successfully representing a pilot in a disciplinary investigation? What should a master executive council’s (MEC) role be in negotiating pilot group contracts? These are important considerations for any ALPA elected pilot leader and were just some of the issues addressed during the Association’s annual Leadership Training Conference.

Held February 6–8 at the union’s McLean, Va., offices, the conference brought together more than 100 local council reps and local executive council (LEC) officers from 31 ALPA pilot groups to learn about their duties and responsibilities as frontline union leaders. The seminar was particularly timely as many of those who participated are new to elected ALPA leadership positions and began their terms of office on March 1.

In his opening remarks, F/O Mark Lockwood (Delta), ALPA’s Leadership Committee chair, explained the focus of the conference, the union’s premier training for elected pilot leaders. “Our goal is to help you tap into the essential tools and resources available to carry out your work effectively and efficiently. Most importantly, this is where you’ll make connections with ALPA pilots and staff you can rely on throughout your term in office.”

A component of ALPA’s Professional Development Group, the Leadership Committee includes Capt. Jared Armstrong (United) and Capt. Glen Gorrie (WestJet), who moderated several panels. Joined by Capt. Andy Nelson, a member of ALPA’s Steering Committee, Leadership Committee members also led a series of interactive breakout sessions, sharing their experiences and perspectives as former local council status reps.

Getting Down to Business

During the three-day conference, participants learned about the broad range of support and resources available to them in their multiple roles under the union’s system of governance. Those who act as local council status reps also serve as members of their MECs, making decisions at the pilot-group level, and as members of ALPA’s Board of Directors, overseeing the general management and business affairs of the union.

In conducting union business at all these levels, attendees learned that revising the Association’s rules and processes starts with submitting ideas and proposals, presented in the form of resolutions, often at the local council level. Many of ALPA’s current policies began with pilot suggestions using this system (see “The Landing” in the May 2023 issue).

Flickr album from the Leadership Training Conference.

Staff subject-matter experts and seasoned pilot volunteers covered important issues like the duty of fair representation, how ALPA supports pilots involved in serious accidents or incidents, and the fundamentals of keeping members effectively informed and engaged. They also discussed best practices in collective bargaining, how to leverage ALPA’s Strategic Planning and Strategic Preparedness and Strike Committees, and how pilots can engage in the union’s advocacy efforts.

In addition, Dr. Quay Snyder, ALPA’s Aeromedical advisor, detailed how the Aeromedical Office assists pilots, MECs, and the Association as a whole. These and other presentations and panel discussions focused on the wealth of resources, experience, and expertise ALPA provides pilot leaders, all of which were showcased at an open house during which participants toured the Association offices and met staff and committee representatives with whom they’ll be working.

Attendees also engaged in practice exercises where they applied some of the concepts they’d learned. During one breakout session, participants acted on a resolution in a mock MEC meeting, and in another they prioritized tasks in the contract negotiation and ratification process. A third breakout covered ALPA’s successful approach to representing pilots in disciplinary investigations.

Guest speakers highlighted important considerations for local council reps and LEC officers. In a segment titled “ALPA Telephone Polling: What It Tells Us About Our Members,” Phil Comstock of Lescault and Waldeman, Inc. noted that 93 percent of U.S. airline pilots (95 percent in Canada) are unionized, as compared to private-sector unionization in other jobs, which is significantly lower in both countries. He explained that airline pilots have intrinsic common ground with their peers—one of the main reasons for the high percentage of unionization in the profession.

Naseem Khuri, a professor from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and an expert on negotiations, influence, and conflict management, engaged the group in several interactive exercises designed to foster the use of effective collaboration strategies.

Insights from ALPA Leaders

“As an ALPA member who’s also served as a local council rep, I understand the time and personal sacrifices that you’re making to ensure the voices of your council members are heard,” said Capt. Jason Ambrosi, ALPA’s president. In a state-of-the-union presentation, he provided an overview of the Association’s recent activities and accomplishments. “I’m proud that our union has welcomed five new pilot groups since my administration took office just one year ago. With more than 77,000 members, ALPA’s ranks are far and away the largest in our history.”

Ambrosi thanked the many conference attendees for their sense of duty and willingness to get involved. “I recognize that each of you brings a heads-down attitude to your work, and I commend your commitment to strengthening our union, improving our profession, and enhancing the safety and security of air transportation,” he commented.

Capt. Wendy Morse, ALPA’s first vice president and national safety coordinator, provided an overview of the union’s Air Safety Organization. “ALPA was founded on safety. This is why we’re the largest nongovernmental safety organization in the world,” she remarked.

As part of his segment “You’re Elected…Now What?” Capt. Sean Creed, ALPA’s vice president–administration/secretary, recommended that pilot leaders use a “low-tech, high-touch” approach when dealing with their members, emphasizing the importance of person-to-person communications.

In a presentation titled “Your Dues Dollars at Work,” Capt. Wes Clapper, ALPA’s vice president–finance/treasurer, explained how member dues are allocated and reported on the union’s financial status.

Capt. Tim Perry, ALPA Canada president, briefed the group on current priorities in Canada, including pilot-positive legislation, better flight crew airport screening, and increased jumpseat access.

Faces in the Crowd

ALPA’s Leadership Training Conference had one of its largest attendance levels ever, and the pilots who participated had a host of reasons for being there.

Capt. Jenifer Gersbach (JetBlue), the secretary-treasurer for Local Council 199 in Los Angeles, Calif., noted that although she’d been flying for many years and participated in committee work, this was her first elected ALPA office and first Leadership Training Conference. She observed that with upcoming contract negotiations, “It was the right time for me to step into the role.”

In contrast, Capt. Mike Sterling (Air Transport International), captain rep for Local Council 90 and MEC chair for his single-council pilot group, was attending his third conference. Addressing his repeated presence, he noted, “I always get something valuable out of this event.” After three and a half years in contract negotiations and with his fellow MEC officers in attendance who are new to the job, Sterling saw this training as a team-building opportunity.

As first officer rep for Local Council 131, F/O Peter Quijada (Envoy Air) recalled that when his carrier decided to open its Phoenix, Ariz., pilot base, “I thought about this as an opportunity to serve my peers, so I decided to run for office.” Quijada added that he was participating in the conference to develop his leadership skills, not only for his new ALPA job but for his life in general.

Among those new to ALPA leadership roles, F/O Lawrence Howard (United), Local Council 173 secretary-treasurer, admitted that he ran for office because “I wanted to look behind the scenes.” He noted that unions were a new experience for him.

F/O Shavonne Perreault (Morningstar Air Express), Local Council 208 first officer rep and MEC vice chair, said she pursued her new role, in part, because she enjoys problem solving. The Winnipeg, Man.-based pilot remarked that she was amazed by the number of resources available through the Association and looked forward to her pilot group applying them to negotiate a new labour contract at her property.

Building a Network of Support

In addition to the information these and other participating pilots received and the skills they developed, they also had the opportunity to network during special evening events. As well as the open house, ALPA’s executive vice presidents hosted dinners for the pilot leaders in their groups, and the conference concluded with an exclusive dinner at the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

Recognizing how key pilot leaders’ families are to their success, ALPA’s Leadership Training Conference also provides a program for spouses and partners to help them better understand what being a union leader involves, the importance of these jobs to the Association, and the impact they can have on pilots’ personal lives.

Closing out the event, Lockwood thanked the participating ALPA leaders for their service and attendance at the conference, pointing out, “You have one of the hardest but most rewarding roles in this Association…. Going through this training has helped prepare you to best represent your pilots, and they’ll be better served with you at the helm.”