Michael Baust for APFA Vice-President

Willingness to Serve Statement

If it's true that unionism is about having a contract and having seniority, then one of the greatest issues facing the APFA membership is our current leadership's use of the "side letter of agreement."

Rock Salomon

What's the point in having a contract if it can simply be gutted with a side letter of agreement? Better yet, what's the definition of 'seniority' if the leadership can arbitrarily allow people to cut in front of you?

What was once considered a tool to address issues that couldn't wait until board approval or membership ratification has become a tool whereby union governance usurps memberships' rights and authority on issues such as pay, benefits, work rules, retirement and seniority.

While side letters have always been in use, in recent years this little loophole was used to gut our 1998 Agreement and also to bypass employment seniority by allowing the company to hire and employ speakers before recalling flight attendants who have been on furlough for more than 8 years.

The side letter has gone from being a helpful friend to being an absolute scourge on our workgroup. In the hands of unscrupulous leadership, our pay, benefits, work rules, retirement and seniority have been greatly reduced, greatly affected, or purposely ignored.

As a candidate for Vice-President, one of the first orders of business is to address the use of the side letter of agreement. This business-as-usual approach to silencing the memberships' voice is going to come to a crashing halt.

James, Tim and Rock feel the same way: what's the point in having a contract if it can simply be gutted with a side letter of agreement? Better yet, what's the definition of 'seniority' if the leadership can arbitrarily allow people to cut in front of you?

We all know change is needed, and that's why I'm offering my willingness to serve. I believe in this team and I believe in its core values. This isn't a sell-out team.

Change happens when people get involved — it's commanded, not demanded.

Are you ready to get involved?

APFA is OUR union. Let's take it back.

Salomon-Baust-Todd-Gillard

www.WeWantOurMoneyBack.net

CANDIDATE INFORMATION:

YEARS OF SERVICE: 25

BASE: DFW

PREVIOUS BASES: IMA, MIA, JFK, LGA

SLATE INFORMATION:

Rock Salomon - President

Mike Baust - Vice-President

Tim Todd - Secretary

Jamie Gillard - Treasurer

SLATE SLOGAN: We Want Our Money Back!!!

CAMPAIGN WEBSITE:www.WeWantOurMoneyBack.net

LABOR RELATIONS BACKGROUND:

  • Supported the RPA Lawsuit Challenging the 2003 AAL/APFA Restructuring Agreement

FLIGHT ATTENDANT CREDENTIALS:

  • APFA Strike Captain, FLL 1993
  • DFW Flight Attendant 2007 - Present
  • MIA/IMA Flight Attendant 1990 - 2007
  • LGA/JFK Flight Attendant 1987-2001
  • Class of 86-27

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

  • Rollins College - B.A., Economics, B.A. Speech Communications

PREVIOUS BUSINESS/JOB EXPERIENCE:

  • Teacher: K-12 New York State School System
  • Event Planning: Corporate and Personal Events