Pilots

ALPA President's Department Records

mstepaniak — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 09:42:42 -0400

The President's Department records are arranged in three parts.

Part I: The Air Line Pilots Association was formed in secret in 1930 by a group of “Key Men” from each airline, they formed openly and affiliated with the American Federation of Labor in 1931. In that same year David Behncke was elected president of ALPA, an office he held twenty years, until being recalled in 1951 (and off and on through 1952 during his legal battle with ALPA). His successor, Clarence Sayen, held office eleven years from 1951-62 and was replaced by Charles Ruby from 1962-70. These three president’s tenures make up part 1 of the President’s Department records. The collection is divided by each president’s term of office, with some overlap in election years, and some overlap between Behncke and Sayen from 1951-52 during the court battles and periodic switches in president. The collection is further divided into: correspondence (external, internal, and with airlines) and the supporting documentation, subject files, and governing bodies and committee records for each president’s tenure. Some of the subjects include: Psychological Testing, Medical Testing, Pilot Benefits, Hijacking, Flight Engineers Jurisdictional Dispute, Crew Complement, Age 60 Rule, United Airlines Class and Craft Dispute, American Airlines Secession, ALPA/ALSSA Split, Behncke Recall, Washington Move, and Technological Innovations.

Part II reflects the office's activities, primarily under J.J. O'Donnell, in coordinating the activities of ALPA local offices and in speaking on behalf of its members in the media and before various government bodies. Predominately correspondence and reports, these records cover subjects such as airline mergers & strikes, airport security, bomb threats, hijacking, and terrorism. Important correspondents include J. Edgar Hoover and George E. Hopkins.

Part III focuses on the careers of the fourth, fifth, and sixth presidents of the Association, J.J. O’Donnell (1970-82), Henry Duffy (1982-90), and J. Randolph Babbitt (1990-98). One of the major issues the presidents from this era had to contend with was deregulation, which completely changed the landscape of the airline industry and the way unions functioned in that system. All three presidents struggled in the aftermath of unforeseen problems and challenges to ALPA pilots including Alter Ego airlines, Chapter 11 union-busting tactics, and the introduction of a B-scale. Other issues they faced include Hijacking, Crew Complement, Age 60 Rule, Cabatoge, Drug and Alcohol Testing, and Strikes at Continental and Eastern Airlines. Part III includes correspondence with government departments, industry organizations, and ALPA members; presidential statements; governing bodies minutes; department files; and committee meetings and reports.

Part IV consists of records from the Southern Airways strike of 1960-1962. The collection largely contains correspondence, including communications regarding matters that weren’t settled until long after the strike ended.

ALPA Governing Bodies: Executive Board Records

bbealmear — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 15:32:24 -0500

The Executive Board was created in 1947 as part of ALPA's governing structure to assist the Board of Directors. The Executive Board exercises control over the association and manages its business affairs when the Board of Directors is not in session. The Executive Board can also interpret the constitution and by-laws, as well as create or change policy. The board covers issues such as administration, membership, accounting and finance, employment agreements, retirement and insurance, contract administration, and mergers. The records include minutes, agendas, transcripts, correspondence, general books, reports, and supporting documents for meetings from 1947-2009.

ALPA Governing Bodies: Executive Committee

srafferty — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:33:17 -0500

The Executive Committee (EXCO) was established in 1951 as part of the organizational restructuring of ALPA, with the first meeting occurring in 1953. The Committee worked with the president in a consultation role and was designed to execute policies made by the Board of Directors (BOD) and Executive Board (EXBD) as well as recommend policy to both bodies. In addition the Committee also determined the organizational structure of the home office, ratified staff members, and was a trustee for ALPA business and funds as well as scheduling BOD and EXBD meetings. The Committee consisted of President, Secretary, Treasurer and Regional Vice Presidents (later Executive Vice Presidents).
The Committee covered Association issues such as: Budget, Negotiations, Contracts and Mergers, Membership and Staff, Insurance and Retirement, Engineering and Air Safety, Public Relations, and Affiliations. In 1992 the Committee was abolished and replaced by the Executive Council. The records of the Executive Committee covers the period of 1953-1992 and include Agendas, Minutes, Transcripts, Reports and Correspondence.

ALPA Governing Bodies: Executive Council

srafferty — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:53:31 -0500

In 1992, the ALPA Executive Council was created by the Board of Directors to replace the Executive Committee. The Executive Council helps advance the policies and objectives established by the Board of Directors and Executive Board. It has the authority to interpret the association’s constitution and by-laws and policy. The council mainly covers financial, accounting, organizational and administrative matters. The Executive Council Records include meeting minutes, agendas, budgets, and background information on subjects covered during the years 1992-2009.

ALPA Herndon EAL Strike Center Records

srafferty — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 14:31:51 -0400

The Herndon EAL Strike Center Records document the 265 day strike on Eastern Airlines (EAL) from March 4, 1989 - November 23, 1989. During this period 3400 of 4200 EAL pilots went out on sympathy strike along with the flight attendants represented by the Transportation Workers Union (TWU), both of whom voted to honor the International Association of Machinists (IAM) strike of Eastern Airlines. The Herndon EAL Strike Center Records focus on the records of EAL Council 142 located in Herndon, VA, but also include EAL wide communications. The records are made up mainly of the daily fax messages sent to each EAL strike center every day for strike coordinators, and pilots and their families. The updates included information on strike developments, negotiations, media coverage, and research to counter company information. They also provided information about benefits, family awareness blocks, and writings to keep morale up. In addition there is information on Operation Love Song, the IAM/ALPA/TWU travel agent program, MEC updates, and strike/picket information and procedures. Also included are pilot letters, writings, songs and poetry, and cartoons created during the strike.

ALPA Miami ALI MEC Records

srafferty — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 13:18:10 -0400

The records of the Airlift International (ALI) Master Executive Council (MEC) cover the last decade of ALI’s existence. The airline originated as Riddle Airlines and became Airlift in 1965, expanding in 1968 and buying out Slick Airways. The airline went into Chapter 11 in 1981 and reorganized but was plagued by problems for the rest of the decade. The pilots and management were at odds over collective bargaining and working agreements and the MEC spent much time negotiating contracts and attempting to enforce work rules. In 1986, the Airlift fleet was grounded by the FAA for noncompliance with noise regulations. All ALI pilots were furloughed, causing ALPA to take custodial leadership over the ALI MEC; the airline ceased domestic flights and only operated a short stint of flights in Asia in 1987. Airlift ceased operations completely in 1991.The ALPA Miami ALI MEC Records are made up of correspondence, Chapter 11 documents and litigation, negotiation documents and notes, letters of agreement, and agreements.

ALPA Miami EAL MEC Records

srafferty — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 17:34:15 -0500

Parts 1 and 2 of the EAL MEC Records spans 30 years but focuses mainly on the last decade of Eastern Air Line's operations. Major subjects include mergers, air safety and bankruptcy litigation.

ALPA Miami PAA MEC Records

srafferty — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 10:37:15 -0400

The records of the Pan American World Airways (PAA) Master Executive Council
(MEC) span from the 1970s to 1991 when Pan Am ceased operations. The PAA MEC worked to ensure its pilots had fair working agreements, and focused on retirement and insurance for all levels of cockpit crew. In 1980, Pan Am bought National Airlines (NAL) in an attempt to expand their domestic routes and increase revenue. The MEC pursued an evenhanded merging of the two seniority lists, however the end product caused some frustration among the pilot group, particularly those lower on the seniority list. In the end, the merger wasn’t enough to save the airline and PAA declared bankruptcy on January 8, 1991. The PAA MEC Records include MEC meeting minutes, agendas, and supporting documents from the 1980s and 1990s, as well as administrative, and Retirement and Insurance Committee files from the 1970s-1980s. The Pan American-National Airline merger is covered through subject files, arbitration hearing transcripts, and exhibits from both the PAA and NAL ALPA, and the PAA and NAL Flight Engineers International Association (FEIA).

Flight Attendants and the Air Line Pilots Association

srafferty — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 10:40:47 -0500

It was 1973, and the Air Line Pilots Association was rife with tension. Things hadn’t been working out for a while between the Steward and Stewardess and Pilot Divisions of ALPA. It was clear to both that “the Problem” (as the relationship between the Pilot and S&S Division was being referred to) needed to be fixed. But a solution, one which would work for both divisions, ensuring pilot control over ALPA and stewardess autonomy, proved elusive. While “the Problem” was first brought to the fore in 1970, it took one convention, four study groups, and countless meetings, proposals and counter proposals, for the two divisions to work out a solution and bring the Association of Flight Attendants into being. read more »

[Podcast] The Southern Airways Strike of 1960: ALPA’s Epic Battle Over Fair Pilot Wages

teller — Fri, 31 May 2019 11:36:05 -0400

Air Line Pilots Association archivist Bart Bealmear shares the history of ALPA's shrewd 1960 strike against regional carrier Southern Airways over pilot wages. read more »