Candidate Questionnaire Answers
CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE
Juli Zabos A320/CA/LAX/I
Running for Vice Chairman LAX
PERSONAL
Why are you applying for a BOD position? I believe we need new leadership at APA. I bring new ideas, new thinking, and a renewed enthusiasm with me. After 24 years with American Airlines, I still love my job. It’s not perfect. It can be much better. It must be much better. The way to get us there is by getting different thinking onto the Board.
What are your goals for this union membership? We have to be laser focused on the contract. We have a once in a generation opportunity to capitalize on the gains made at Delta and the historic pilot shortage. Gains must be both in quality of life issues and pay and benefits. It is important to remember that traditionally, pay is the last thing to be negotiated. We must get a contract in a timely fashion, but getting it right is far more important than getting it fast. That is the most important thing before us now. The Board will be instrumental in making sure that happens.
What would make you a great BOD Member? I have a solid background in taking care of our pilots due to my experience as a Compass Project mentor. As for working with the BOD, I am not an insider. However, I communicate well and in my career I have gotten along with all my crews, as FO and CA. I’m sure that will translate well to working with the Board.
What have you done for the APA in the past, and how would you integrate this into your potential new role as a BOD? I worked for the CIRP when I was based in Dallas, and have been a Compass Project mentor for over a year now. I am also going to be involved in the new C2C (Captain2Captain) program which will mentor new captains. I plan on continuing with that regardless of what happens going forward.
Would you apply for or accept a position within AA management at any point in the future? I have no interest in pursuing a management position.
APA LEADERSHIP
Regarding policies, negotiations strategy, and the failed TA- how do your views differ, and align with, the following:
your current domicile Chair / Vice Chair I think Bill Evans, the current Vice Chair and incoming Chairman, has done very well and been on the right side of the issues regarding the failed TA.
APA President / Vice President I’m happy with what I have seen so far. However, we must remember that the National Officers don’t make policy, nor direct the negotiating strategy. That is the role of the BOD.
How would you evaluate the present APA leadership performance, and what would you do differently ? There have been a lot of unforced errors in the past several years. The TA was disastrously bad, and if it had passed, Delta’s CBA would not have happened. The fact that the National Officer elections had to be rerun was another needless mistake and also helped demoralize our pilot group.
Did you support the motion to recall the ORD union leadership? Explain why or why not. Not being based in ORD, I have no say in this matter.
How would you learn/engage the interest of the majority of pilots in your base/system wide? I have started a Facebook page: https://www.Facebook.com/jetjuliforvice and an Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/jetjuliforvice. I hope pilots will reach out and engage with me on these platforms. I plan on keeping those open after the election, and encouraging pilots to communicate with me there. I’m active on the AArena, which is a good place to find out what’s on pilots’ minds. I am and will always be available to engage with the membership while I’m in office via email (jetjuliforvice@gmail.com) and phone or text (214-674-1264). Other more traditional communication will also be important, including Base Blasts and Soundoffs.
Is the present “Soundoff” system adequate? Soundoff is a powerful tool, and reps listen when their membership engages with them. I do believe there’s a need for more social media engagement, as our younger pilots are much more actively engaged on other platforms.
What would you do to improve the communication with the pilot group? We need to get the membership mobilized, motivated and engaged. If the communications from APA were more organized, and the messaging more focused and targeted, membership would also be more motivated. I like seeing the communications that show the NOs and BOD speaking with one voice. If we are splintered and infighting, we have done management’s job for them. The membership won’t unify until they see the NOs and BOD speaking and acting in unity.
Who do you support as your counterpart (Chair or Vice) and why? Bill Evans is running unopposed and will become LAX Chairman in May.
TA
Why do you think we have not achieved a ratifiable TA, and what will you bring to the table to change that? The Targeted Approach was the wrong strategy at the wrong time. It would have been appropriate during the depths of COVID. It was implemented too late, at a time when the industry was roaring back. We lost two years due to this failed approach. We are now in a position where we are having to start over with a new Negotiating Committee, with Delta’s new CBA as a baseline. It may take a while. We want a great contract, not a fast contract.
What specific guidance do you think APA should issue to the pilot group to help drive the company to an industry leading contract? They are doing well driving home the message: MY UNION SPEAKS FOR ME. Promises of an industry leading contract with wages and work rules to support that statement are very nice, but they are just words. Until management presents comprehensive and concrete proposals to our Negotiating Committee at the bargaining table, nothing has happened and nothing has changed. Now is the time to send management a strong message that we are unified, we are determined. A successful strike vote can do that to some extent, but only if we have total engagement and total unity. This vote will be important.
Did you support the failed TA? Explain why or why not. I thought it was a huge mistake well before the vote was taken. I thought the Targeted Approach came two years too late and would not have taken advantage of the changes in the industry as the economy has recovered post-pandemic. In addition, had it been approved, Delta’s new CBA would never have happened. We would have dragged the rest of the industry down with us.
What is your definition of a concession in the current contract negotiations? Would you accept a TA with any concessions? Please explain your reasoning. A concession means giving up protections or a worsening of any area of our current CBA. We already have some of the worst work rules and compensation in the industry among our peer airlines. I expect and would demand improvements in every area. It can be done. If Delta could do it, so can we. The concession stand is CLOSED.
MEMBERSHIP
Why is the APA membership and BOD so divided? What would you do as a BOD to unify us? I’m not sure I agree that membership is so divided, at least when it comes to our desire to make American the great place to work that it should be. The BOD has become very large and somewhat unwieldy, with 20 members, often with 20 ideas as to how best to proceed. That said, democracy is messy. What’s important is that the messy bit be handled in such a way that when consensus is reached, the sniping stops. Once a way forward is decided on, all members of the BOD must be seen to support that and unify behind it, even if they may not all personally agree.
Why do you think APA membership is so apathetic? How to fix that? What would you do as a BOD to contribute? Messaging discipline is key. Membership is worn down by watching the dysfunction of APA leadership. That dysfunction shows in conflicting messaging, sometimes coming from individual board members expressing their own opinions, which sometimes conflict with messaging from others. Members need to feel that their voices are heard, their opinions are valued, and that they can interact readily with their elected representatives. In addition, unforced errors such as the National Officer election having to be rerun look especially bad and destroy morale.
ALPA MERGER
Do you support a merger between APA and ALPA and why?
Would you support independent, non-political research results? Independent, non-political research has been completed. I support the results.
Would you vote “yes” or “no” to an APA- ALPA merger resolution should one presented to the BOD this year? It is imperative that the membership be allowed to choose for themselves who should represent us. I will vote to move an acceptable merger agreement to the membership for vote. This issue is too important for the BOD to make any final decision.
PREMIUM
What are your views on flying Premium trips while serving as a BOD member? While we have an open contract, no member in a leadership position within APA should fly premium. No union leadership member should enrich themselves at members’ expense at any time. No APA leader should benefit, nor be penalized, for union service.
