There’s quite some drama right now at the Allied Pilots Association (APA), which is the union representing American Airlines’ 16,000+ pilots. Somehow it involves election interference, and pilots who are “pro-pilot choice.” We really have the same issues everywhere, eh? 😉
In this post:
APA board of directors recalls president
On October 8, 2024, the APA just casually posted on Twitter/X that “on the first day of its regularly scheduled fall meeting, the APA Board of Directors approved this motion on a 15-5 vote.” There’s a picture of a screen with the motion, which is to recall the president of the union. Umm, that’s kind of a big deal, and the casual way it’s thrown out there is almost comical.
Aero Crew News has the scoop on what’s allegedly going on here. There has long been talk of the possibility of the Allied Pilots Association (APA) merging with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), with the latter being the world’s biggest pilots union. As you’d expect, some members favor this, while others don’t.
The president who was just recalled is staunchly in favor of the APA staying independent, and is against an ALPA merger. I mean, presumably that’s in part because he’s the head of the union, and may not have such a certain role if there were a merger.
The controversy centers around the recalled president allegedly doing everything he can to block union candidates who favor a merger between unions, or who at least want to put the concept of a merger to a vote with the membership. These pilots are known as “pro-pilot choice” (does that make the other pilots “pro-union life?”).
The APA reportedly recently filed disciplinary charges against two members and six local council candidates who were pro-pilot choice. This was justified based on Article 7 of the union’s bylaws, which suggest that actions that threaten APA’s existence justify disciplinary action (which… that’s one way to prevent a merger!).
There are also claims that the previous president had threatened to release the names of voters and non-voters in local council elections, as a form of voter intimidation.
Interestingly immediately after this vote, the union’s social media is highlighting how happy members are with the APA. So even with the president ousted, the APA (or whoever is behind the social media account) is still heavily pushing how it’s better than ALPA.
Let’s see how this situation unfolds
Of course this internal union battle doesn’t impact passengers, but I find the business and politics of the airline industry to be fascinating (and unions are run like businesses in many ways).
It’s going to be very interesting to see how this unfolds. The head of the pilots union has now been ousted, so what’s next? Will he be replaced by someone who is also pro-APA, but who can maybe be less controversial? Or will the efforts to prevent a vote on a merger between unions actually fast track a union merger?
What I find interesting here is that the president was recalled by such a large margin. I imagine most of the people on the board are pro-APA, so why do they feel that now is the time for him to go? Do they think it’s the best path forward for APA to remain independent, are they not as anti-merger as he is, or…?
Pilots seem to have vastly differing opinions as to whether or not a union merger is good. That’s beyond my area of expertise, and I’m just here for the drama. 😉
Bottom line
The head of American’s pilots union has been recalled, as he’s accused of trying to prevent a vote on a possible merger between unions. American pilots are unique in not belonging to ALPA, and clearly there are efforts to change that. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of a candidate replaces the one that was just ousted, and if this could cause a union merger sooner rather than later.
What do you make of this drama at the American pilots union?
Hilarious that this survey of 600 pilots (16,000+ company wide ~3-4%) is considered worth posting the survey results
I like Ben but unions are NOT run like a business. They are endogamous and totalitarian. Evidenced by the President’s actions.
Unions are not supposed to be run like business, what are you on about? Also nothing to do with Biden…
Totalitarian? A body that allows member votes and, in this situation, has a board who recalled the president after these shenanigans? There’s nothing more dictator like then a petty manager and executive.
What disciplinary actions can the union take against its members?
Office politics in a regular office is bad enough. I can only imagine what its like in a large union.
Perhaps its a Texas thing but Southwest pilots also do not belong to ALPA.
As for the ouster of the APA president, he overstepped the bounds of supporting an independent union to being willing to punish those that sought choice.
The practical difference between the APA and ALPA represented global carriers DL and UA is scope. AA has succeeded at flying a higher percentage of its system on regional carriers and AA continues to push...
Perhaps its a Texas thing but Southwest pilots also do not belong to ALPA.
As for the ouster of the APA president, he overstepped the bounds of supporting an independent union to being willing to punish those that sought choice.
The practical difference between the APA and ALPA represented global carriers DL and UA is scope. AA has succeeded at flying a higher percentage of its system on regional carriers and AA continues to push that strategy; APA has failed to stop the company's strategy. UA had the highest percentage of its domestic system on regional jets but has been surpassed by AA and UA has long had lots of longhaul international flying.
And while pilot union battles don't usually impact customers, FA battles do. AA finally settled with its warring FA union - also independent - but UA has not even though there are no other large airline unions left to settle.
UA clearly wants to eak out one more quarter of strong earnings before having to account for a massive retro payment to FAs and hundreds of millions more in higher labor costs - or the labor unions haven't done their jobs.
Southwest is a Southwest thing.
ALPA at UA/DL have done much better with controlling regional creep. While UA has lots of regional jets, large amount of 50 seats that they know won't practically replace mainline flying, there is plenty of higher pay/value long haul with growth headed that direction. DL with the lowest capacity aircraft operated by mainline crews has ensured plenty of jobs and kept regional growth at a certain percent (and brilliant...
Southwest is a Southwest thing.
ALPA at UA/DL have done much better with controlling regional creep. While UA has lots of regional jets, large amount of 50 seats that they know won't practically replace mainline flying, there is plenty of higher pay/value long haul with growth headed that direction. DL with the lowest capacity aircraft operated by mainline crews has ensured plenty of jobs and kept regional growth at a certain percent (and brilliant superhub at ATL that enables mainline flying in/out of locations that only see a 50-seater at best by anybody else). AA is the worst of both worlds: tons of RJs, very little long haul flying, and a goal of being the best airline in El Paso. No great upward mobility or guarantees there.
Tim Takes never cease to amuse.
"APA has failed to stop the company's strategy." because APA gave AA/US that scope at the merger in exchange for a higher cost contract than AMR was offering. So "failed to stop" doesn't really mean much outside your extremely lame attempts to paint some disgruntled story at non-DL airlines when APA gave it to the company in the first place. APA probably has asked for it back at...
Tim Takes never cease to amuse.
"APA has failed to stop the company's strategy." because APA gave AA/US that scope at the merger in exchange for a higher cost contract than AMR was offering. So "failed to stop" doesn't really mean much outside your extremely lame attempts to paint some disgruntled story at non-DL airlines when APA gave it to the company in the first place. APA probably has asked for it back at the table to show they tried just like any union asks for the moon to show they tried, but there's no meaningful data anywhere to suggest APA has put "DL/UA scope" at their top of their asks. Why would they? most of that scope is flown by AA-owned regionals and likely future APA members and, in theory, should be able to fund larger APA costs if AA believes what it tells investors, rightly or wrongly.
"And while pilot union battles don't usually impact customers, FA battles do. AA finally settled with its warring FA union" What do you view as the customer impact from any unionized Flight Attendant group in the last 20+ years? Are you suggesting APFA acted illegally within the confines of the National Railway act while in mediation or negotiation? Wearing an APFA pin doesn't impact customers as much as you seem to think it does. And you only think it does because you have that weird Delta-drivel nonsense behind every thing you say trying to make Delta look amazing while their competitors are "warring" or "APA has failed"...
You really show your true colors at every post and it's just so dumb and only betrays your own ignorance. But yet you're out here every day proving that ignorance to others in a cloudy murk of nonsense to make yourself seem smart.
and yet AA pilots don't make more than DL or UA pilots but have to put up with much more outsourcing of domestic flying to regional partners. Are you going to deny that AA doesn't have many, many more 2 cabin RJs?
and you JUST LAST WEEK were crowing about how EI's new BNA-DUB flight would be so great for oneworld - and yet not a single American pilot or flight attendant will work onboard...
and yet AA pilots don't make more than DL or UA pilots but have to put up with much more outsourcing of domestic flying to regional partners. Are you going to deny that AA doesn't have many, many more 2 cabin RJs?
and you JUST LAST WEEK were crowing about how EI's new BNA-DUB flight would be so great for oneworld - and yet not a single American pilot or flight attendant will work onboard that flight.
all of your attempts to denigrate me and the evidence is overwhelming that AA employees have gotten the very raw end of the deal with domestic and international outsourcing and everyone except you knows it.
Leave it to you to reply with two things that have nothing to do with what I said, yes. Of course AA has more large RJs, that’s the entire point of what I said, you Moron, scope given to AA at the merger by apa. What point do you even think you’re making? Are you trying to repeat what I said as though I’m contradicting what I said? Lol
And EI’sflight to BNA is different...
Leave it to you to reply with two things that have nothing to do with what I said, yes. Of course AA has more large RJs, that’s the entire point of what I said, you Moron, scope given to AA at the merger by apa. What point do you even think you’re making? Are you trying to repeat what I said as though I’m contradicting what I said? Lol
And EI’sflight to BNA is different to how delta and United operate in their JVs? You seem to think you’ve caught me in some comment mixup but you really just don’t have any mental comprehension for what others write. The aa JV just has better European hub cities in LHr/DUBfor mid tier US cities. Delta has JV language scope requiring them to fly more in their JVs but so? Doesn’t seem too important to APA, just to you and your nonsensical and lame attempt to find discord where there isn’t any. Delta just does a bad job in their alpa negotiations. So what? Delta pilots are paid more than aa via profit sharing amount, but little else. Their contracts are nearly identical minus the profits of the respective carriers. Try better, tim. You only better your ignorance
Get a life loser, you can’t even read what others write much less reply in a coherent manner