Now that ALPA is certified as the trade union for Porter pilots, there are two immediate priorities:
- The steps to put democratically elected permanent representatives in place, and
- Conducting a membership drive and beginning to establish our volunteer structure
Until you elect our own leaders, ALPA will name interim pilot leaders to begin work on behalf of our pilot group, also known as the Porter Master Executive Council (MEC). Every pilot group in ALPA is governed by pilot representatives who make up our MEC, following ALPA’s Constitution & By-Laws.
ALPA will also establish local councils (LECs) at select pilot bases, with interim LEC pilot leaders. After we establish solid membership, each local council elects a representative for each status (Captain or First Officer) or seniority block. In pilot groups such as Porter’s with multiple LECs, the elected representatives make up the MEC. The elected representatives elect MEC officers.
The MEC will establish committees in its first few months of operation. These committees are likely to include Safety, Retirement and Insurance, Negotiations, and others. ALPA professional experts in each area will meet with the committees soon after their formation to outline resources available, provide training, and outline the committee's goals and work schedule.
The interim local council representatives will get things started, but as soon as a strong majority of pilots have become members, an election process will begin so that we can choose our own representatives. Only active members will be eligible to vote in this election. That process will start with a nominating meeting. It's critical for all pilots to submit membership applications as soon as possible after certification to attend local council meetings and vote to elect representatives.