TAPA Constitution & Bylaws, UPDATED to Sep. 9, 2024

Dear 21Air Pilots,

Your elected TAPA Officers received a number of confusing emails from a specific 21Air ground instructor that ran an unsanctioned recall election on TAPA. For her improper coup de tat, she has been asked several times - to stand down.

By pilot direction, the balloting and leadership of pilots "not in good standing" as self-appointed TAPA Officers, must end. The Florida litigation for "tortious interference with contract and theft of union dues" was filed in Miami-Dade County Court on Sep. 9, 2024.

TAPA's leadership has not changed. However, a new TAPA election is necessary.

Meanwhile, TAPA, Inc. has made quite a reputation for itself and a few lawyers very angry.  My letter to Capt. Dave Norgren, written by one of TAPA's labor lawyers concerns the "wildcat" actions that have impacted your careers. TAPA's fmr. Vice President Capt. Tony Bless spoke with Chief Pilot Anthony Tirri before he retired. Mr. Tirri told Bless, "Your dues are being held from TAPA, but no worries of these funds going anywhere." Meanwhile, TAPA enlisted the investigative skills of the US Dept. of Labor and CBA specialists to sort out 21Air's wildcatting. The time has now arrived for our pilots to regain control of TAPA from our new Florida state lawsuit.

In TAPA's Constitution & Bylaws pilots can read the self-appointed 21 Air pilots of TAPA, Inc. are not eligible to hold these elected offices for TAPA, since they were not, "Members in good standing."  The leader of this group has no legal standing as TAPA attorney Lee Seham writes. "He / She is deceiving you with commands to jump and abandon all sense of law and order established for pilot unions." The leadership has scammed your voting rights and TAPA member benefits.

Self-appointment and the collaboration of TAPA, Inc. with our Chief Pilot has returned our company's CBA to the dark ages. TAPA, Inc. leadership has simply not proven itself by results or any actual experience in pilot labor relations. It set TAPA back several years. That means unrepresented pilots, unheard grievances, missed contract opportunities and just like that, we are back to where we started - with a paper mâché' pilot union.  21 Air, LLC wants nothing more than to create a "Muppet show" that is controllable and inexperienced to defend and grow our pilot interests.  Management wants to call the shots, not you for a new and improved contract as Captains and FOs. With no organization or labor skills or any negotiations training at TAPA, Inc. there is no feasible way 21 Air can secure an industry leading contract to retain pilots or grow our airline. Saying NO to pilot grievances and contract improvements -- is the Company's agenda. This simply won't improve our quality of life over time nor will it mature the airline. Pilots talk with their feet and will walk to another job.

That means when you're in trouble and say lose your passport or blow an engine cowl, maybe run off a dark runway - Who do you call?  That means when a merger occurs and your seniority is up for grabs or, you can't stand flying with that certain Captain - Who now represents you in your job?  Where do you turn for support?  

Overall, it means a return to the past, where a chief pilot can fire you at will. And, he has proven that he will. The Seattle AIR 21 lawsuit called this the "Cat's Paw."

In the meanwhile, Tony, Jim and I are always looking for great volunteers for our TAPA jobs to serve the Association and to follow-up in our footsteps. Even more so, to help with TAPA Committees that benefit our pilots.  However, does the Company demonstrate "we really care about you" when they bully, ignore and retaliate?  Are you ready to move on from the current 21 Air Muppet show? 

Your TAPA Officers will support any qualified candidate for any TAPA elected office that has spent at least some time volunteering and learning how to serve pilots on a TAPA Committee or at another pilot union.  Of course, we all must first be willing to conform to the standards in the TAPA Constitution and Bylaws. If we don't "follow the guidance" and run the checklists, we create disorder and chaos in our pilot union and for our cockpits. There's no leadership without standards.

To that effect, what's the real problem here? TAPA contacted the National Mediation Board (NMB) for confirmation, worked with our consultants and notified the Department of Labor, as the law required. We then decided to work within the State Court system to discern who pays our TAPA dues and who represents the 21 Air pilots or, if a non-member entity has somehow gained preferential status. As expected, only the 21 Air Pilot's Association, Inc. represents the 21 Air pilots - not TAPA, Inc.

For now, we are proud of our TAPA infrastructure and, the experienced staff that work and volunteer with each of us.  The last few months working with the Aviation Division of the Teamsters has been an amazing opportunity to understand how IBT #1224 functions and what they might add to our pilot group. Horizon Air in Seattle has the industry's leading contract for regionals. 

See Airline Professionals Association | Teamsters Local Union No. 1224 (apa1224.org).

We will keep you updated as the IBT consulting with TAPA progresses. So far, TAPA is a stand-alone labor unit and we can stay independent with good pilots leading the way. With the right pilot leadership TAPA can grow, work with 21 Air management and offer our new pilots industry leading pay and benefits. Meanwhile, stay tuned, get involved and read your contract and TAPA's Constitution and Bylaws.  We started this conversion to build a real union for TAPA pilots with 100% approval from Resolution #7. We were just getting started when 21 Air decided to end the progress we made.

Let's fix all of that and get TAPA behind a new industry leading contract that will retain pilots and attract more experienced pilots for future leadership. Meanwhile, the curtain must close on the Muppet show. Fasten your seat belts.

Remember only TAPA members in Good Standing can VOTE or hold elected office.