Get to Know AFL-CIO’s Affiliates: Air Line Pilots Association
Get to Know AFL-CIO’s Affiliates: Air Line Pilots Association
This is the next post in our series that will take a deeper look at each of our affiliates. The series will run weekly until we’ve covered all 63 of our affiliates. Next up is the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).
Name of Union: Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA).Mission: The mission of ALPA is to promote and champion all aspects of aviation safety throughout all segments of the aviation community; to represent, in both specific and general respects, the collective interests of all pilots in commercial aviation; to assist in collective bargaining activities on behalf of all pilots represented by the association; to promote the health and welfare of the members of the association before all governmental agencies; to be a strong, forceful advocate of the airline piloting profession, through all forms of media, and with the public at large; and to be the ultimate guardian and defender of the rights and privileges of the professional pilots who are members of the association.Current Leadership of Union: Capt. Jason Ambrosi was elected as ALPA’s 12th president on Oct. 19, 2022. He brings 25 years of ALPA experience to the job. He flies the Boeing 767 ER at Delta Air Lines. He began his airline flying career at Atlantic Southeast Airlines, a former Delta Connection carrier and regional airline. Delta hired him in 2000, just 18 months prior to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and he was among the many pilots furloughed after the attacks. While on furlough, Ambrosi worked for a charter airline, where he advocated for labor representation and helped build a strong safety culture. He has a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and lives in Griffin, Georgia, with his wife, Heather, and their two children.Capt. Wendy Morse serves as ALPA’s first vice president. Capt. Sean Creed is the organization’s vice president—administration/secretary. Capt. Wes Clapper is the vice president—finance/treasurer. Capt. Steve Mayer serves as executive administrator.Current Number of Members: 79,000.Members Work As: Airline pilots.Industries Represented: The airline industry in the United States and Canada. ALPA serves as the bargaining agent for pilot groups from 42 commercial airlines, including both passenger and cargo operations.History: As the 1920s concluded, life for airline pilots was difficult and dangerous, with many companies treating this employee group like an expendable commodity. Many airline pilots died in aircraft accidents during this period.In 1931, pilots in the United States came together to form the first professional union of pilots, ALPA, to promote aviation safety and give these flyers a greater voice in their workplace. During World War II, the union began advocating for the creation of an independent safety board, which finally took shape in the 1960s, after decades of work.After the war, ALPA banded together with pilot unions from around the world to form the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) to influence international travel and safety standards.With new technological advances in air transportation, ALPA created an air safety structure to fight for crew fatigue rules and rest requirements, along with other safety priorities. The association began working with aircraft manufacturers to improve cockpit features. In addition, the rise of terrorist attacks on aircraft represented a new safety concern for ALPA, identifying the need for greater security measures.The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 also changed the landscape for the airline industry, reinventing the way airlines conducted business but also introducing a new wave of safety concerns. ALPA continued to fight to make the skies safer and achieved numerous victories (including securing mandated “fasten seatbelt” signs in aircraft cabins and policies such as a nationwide anti-skyjacking strategy, which was adopted by federal regulators).The 9/11 terrorist attacks revitalized the need to revisit security, and ALPA responded, successfully pushing for programs to provide more thorough screening of passengers and cargo.Decades of hard work on air safety concerns also paid off, as the total number of airline accidents in the United States and Canada dropped by more than 70% in the decade ending in 2007.These and other accomplishments in recent years have not diminished the union’s focus on safety and security, with top priorities including science-based fatigue rules for all airline pilots, improved pilot training and professionalism, and the safe integration of commercial space vehicles and remotely piloted aircraft (such as drones) into civil airspace.On the collective bargaining front, ALPA continues to promote a system of pattern bargaining to ensure that its members receive fair pay and benefits for the services they perform, safe and reasonable working conditions, and a better quality of life.Current Campaigns: Safety Starts with Two is a global pilot initiative, co-led by ALPA, that is working to prevent airlines and manufacturers from pushing ahead with plans to remove pilots from the flight deck—a profit-driven scheme that poses a significant safety risk. Jumpseat works to establish guidelines and fairness in the use of airplane jump seats. Cleared to Dream recruits new pilots into the industry. Trained for Life focuses on training and expertise in order to reduce airline-related death and injury. ALPA fights to maintain pilot staffing levels, prevent airlines from taking advantage of regulatory loopholes, protect U.S. airlines from unfair business practices, mitigate fatigue among cargo pilots, improve security through mandated flight deck barriers and modernize the national airspace for new entrants.Community Efforts: Pilots for Pilots helps ALPA members and their families who have been harmed by natural disasters. ALPA publishes Air Line Pilot magazine.Learn More: Website, Facebook, YouTubeYou can also check out this video to learn more about ALPA’s history:
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 04/07/2025 – 10:30
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Faculty at Nevada State University Win Union Election
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Faculty at Nevada State University Win Union Election
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
This week, faculty members at Nevada State University voted to join the Nevada Faculty Alliance, an affiliate of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and American Federation of Teachers (AFT).This is the fourth collective bargaining chapter of the Nevada Faculty Alliance, and academic workers voted to organize with a landslide vote of 104–8. Having prevailed through the election process, faculty are now eagerly turning their attention toward bargaining a fair and empowering contract with administrators.“This work could not have been done without the countless hours of organizing, research and outreach executed by faculty on our Collective Bargaining Organizing Committee,” said Andrew Lavengood-Ryan, lecturer of mathematics in the Department of Data, Media and Design. “I have had the distinct pleasure of working with and leading some of the most incredible people at Nevada State over the past year and half, and it is so fulfilling to see all of that work come together. We look forward to negotiating with NSU administration directly for a fair, collaborative contract that protects faculty needs.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 04/07/2025 – 09:18
Teamster Tips the Scales of Power in Pennsylvania
On March 25, a rank-and-file Teamster tipped the scales of power in Pennsylvania. Since January, the commonwealth’s House of Representatives had been split 101-101 between Democrats and Republicans. That meant a special election to fill District 35’s vacant seat would determine which party holds the majority and the authority that comes with it. To win […]
Read More....AFL-CIO on March Jobs Report
AFL-CIO on March Jobs Report
In response to the March jobs report showing that unemployment is rising, Candace Archer, AFL-CIO Policy Director, released the following statement released the following statement:
The March numbers released today don’t tell the whole story of the state of jobs in our country. The Trump administration’s attacks on the federal workforce and reckless economic policies are causing unemployment to continue to rise and threaten to destroy the strong economy that this administration inherited While there has been strong growth in health care jobs, this could all be undone by Congress cutting Medicaid to pay for another tax giveaway to billionaires. Medicaid cuts would devastate our health care system and workers across the sector are holding their breath, waiting for their jobs to disappear. The still strong job numbers don’t reflect how uncertain things actually are for the working people of this country. The March jobs report doesn’t include the tens of thousands of federal workers DOGE has put out of work but remain in limbo on administrative leave or may get reinstated and refired, as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. indicated just this week. And some estimates suggest as many as 275,240 workers were laid off last month, 60% more than February and 205% more than this time last year. For working people who are just trying to get through their shifts, feed their families, and get their kids to school, this chaos is the last thing they need. It’s not too late to reverse course and stop unemployment from continuing to rise. We call on members of Congress and all those who stand with working people to join us in the fight and stop these attacks.
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 04/04/2025 – 17:43
2025 Oklahoma Postal Workers Union State Convention
Training begins April 24. Registration: $140. Training, Convention and Banquet will be held at the Stride Bank Convention Center at 301 S Independence. Enid, Ok. For questions, contact Loretta Hackman at 918 833 2477
April 24, 2025 – 8:15AM to April 26, 2025 – 5:15PMGlo Best Western123 W Main St, Enid, Ok
LocalNoYes2025-04-04 00:00:002025 Oklahoma Postal Workers Union State ConventionTraining begins April 24.
Hotel Information
Glo Best Western
123 W Main St,
Enid, Ok
580 540 4172
Training, Convention and Banquet will be held at the Stride Bank Convention Center at 301 S Independence. Enid, Ok.
Registration is $140 Payable to:
OPWU
PO Box 3505
Tulsa, Ok 74101
Questions: Loretta Hackman at 918 833 2477
10
Teamsters in Washington Ratify First Regional Contract at APP/World Kinect
(SEATTLE) – Teamsters in Washington have overwhelmingly ratified their first-ever regional collective bargaining agreement at APP/World Kinect. The contract covers more than 100 fuel haulers at Locals 174, 231, and newly organized workers at Local 58, strengthening Teamsters’ power in a critical industry. “This is a groundbreaking agreement that unites Teamsters from across Washington under […]
Read More....Victory in Wisconsin: The Working People Weekly List
Victory in Wisconsin: The Working People Weekly List
Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s the latest edition of the Working People Weekly List.
AFL-CIO Raises Concerns over Cuts to NIOSH Workforce: “AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler condemned the Trump administration’s decision to eliminate nearly 900 jobs at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), calling the move ‘devastating’ for worker safety. ‘Every worker should be able to go home safe and healthy at the end of their shift—but the Trump administration is gutting NIOSH,’ Shuler said in a statement.” New Museum in Pullman to Recognize Women’s Role in Labor Movement: “A. Philip Randolph set the stage for the Civil Rights Movement by forming and leading the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1925, which 10 years later became the first African American labor union to be affiliated with the American Federation of Labor. The contributions of Randolph and those he represented are highlighted in a museum in Chicago’s Pullman neighborhood, the historic home of the country’s largest sleeping car company. Now a new effort is afoot to recognize an often-overlooked element of that effort. Randolph’s success at organizing a union that would represent thousands of workers all over the United States rested squarely upon the efforts of women such as Rosina Corrothers Tucker.” ‘Hands Off’ Protest: April 5 Could See Massive Turnout for Rallies Against Trump and Musk in All 50 States. Here’s What to Know: “The protests are organized by Indivisible, a grassroots movement aimed at rebuilding democracy and defeating Trump, which is partnering with a broad coalition of groups including: the Women’s March, the United Federation of Teachers, Public Citizen, the Progressive Democrats of America, Common Cause, the Human Rights Campaign, MoveOn, the League of Women Voters, Planned Parenthood and some unions, including AFL-CIO, UAW and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).” AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond Talks About Attacks on Organized Labor and Why Union Members Voted for Trump: “Fred Redmond, national secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, was in town Saturday, March 29, for a rally at the Gateway Arch, hosted by AFGE and the AFL-CIO, protesting President Donald Trump’s attacks on the federal workforce and recent executive order stripping federal workers of their collective bargaining rights. Before the rally began, Redmond sat down for an interview with the Labor Tribune, discussing the administration’s actions, fighting back and why some union members voted for Trump. Following is an edited version of the interview.” 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race; Susan Crawford Defeats Brad Schimel: “Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale: ‘Congratulations to Judge Susan Crawford for her victory and congratulations to the entire Wisconsin labor movement that proudly stood by her every step of the way.’” SAG-AFTRA’s Duncan Crabtree-Ireland on How Consumers Can Support Video Game Actors Strike as It Nears 250-Day Mark: “The SAG-AFTRA strike against major video game companies has nearly reached the 250-day mark, and there’s no deal yet. And while nothing seems to have changed from the outside, real progress is being made behind the scenes.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 04/04/2025 – 11:45
United Airlines Teamsters Rally at Orlando International Airport
(ORLANDO) – Following an overwhelming 99.5 percent rejection of United Airlines’ latest unrealistic proposal, United Airlines Teamsters aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) rallied outside Orlando International Airport (MCO) after a week of contract negotiations in Orlando. “Teamsters at United Airlines are putting this company on notice: we will accept nothing less than an industry-leading contract that […]
Read More....Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Minnesota Science Museum Workers Ratify Historic First Contract
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Minnesota Science Museum Workers Ratify Historic First Contract
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
After over 550 days of dedicated organizing efforts, members of AFSCME Council 5 who work at the Science Museum of Minnesota (SMM) are celebrating their first-ever union contract.Staff voted in January 2023 to form SMM Workers Union, a wall-to-wall bargaining unit that includes scientists, researchers, lab technicians, educators, customer service and more. Victories in the deal include substantial wage increases, new parental leave benefits, clear and enforceable job security protections, and longevity pay that rewards years of service. Despite leadership at the St. Paul museum instituting retaliatory layoffs directly after workers voted to join AFSCME and slow-walking bargaining, SMM Workers Union members stood strong and emerged victorious.“Management fought us at every turn,” said Jennings Mergenthal, a community engagement specialist. “But after 550 days, we won. Not just any contract—we won a fair contract. A contract that ensures a better future for museum workers and raises the standard for cultural institutions across the country.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 04/04/2025 – 09:42
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Organizing
TCU/IAM’S Allison Parker Begins Serving as Labor Chair for National Railroad Adjustment Board
Effective April 1, 2025, TCU/IAM Industry Relations Executive Director Allison Parker began serving as the Labor Chair for the National Railroad Adjustment Board (NRAB). The NRAB is an arm of the National Mediation Board (NMB) and is crucial in resolving discipline and rule grievances on practically every rail carrier in the United States. Parker has
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