Federal Aviation Administration

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 Steward and Stewardess Division Records

srafferty — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:39:41 -0400

The Steward and Stewardess Division was created by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) Board of Directors in 1960 after ALPA and the Air Line Stewards and Stewardess Association (ALSSA) separated in 1959. Following the same basic structure as ALPA, the division had its own Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Executive Board, and national officers of Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. Initially consisting of 20 airlines and around 3,580 stewardesses, by 1969 the S&S Division represented approximately 10,000 stewardesses through Local Executive, and Master Executive Councils on each of their airlines and assisted them with negotiations, grievances, sex and age discrimination, air safety and equal employment issues. In 1973 the stewardesses signed a charter of affiliation with ALPA and formed the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA). The Steward and Stewardess Division Records contains Office Records, Correspondence, Governing Bodies Minutes, MEC/LEC Records, Publications, Negotiations, Agreements, and Constitutions and By-laws. The subjects covered include: Air Safety, Crew Complements, Organizing, Uniforms, Contract Negotiations, Seniority, Negotiations, Bidding, Scheduling, Sex Discrimination, Marriage Rules, Age Discrimination, Maternity Leave, ALSSA/ALPA Dispute, Strikes, Age 32/35 Policies, and Women’s Rights.