Greetings,

AFA 66 eCommunication - Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Charges Filed with AFA Against MEC Officers

In keeping with our promises to provide open communication and transparency in AFA union work, please be advised that on April 1, 2009 AFA East MEC President Mike Flores, filed charges with the AFA International Office against AFA West MEC President Lisa LeCarre and MEC Secretary Treasurer, Jeff Albers. MEC East President Mr. Flores' remedy is to remove the two officers that this membership has elected, thereby placing control of this council, joint negotiations and your future in the hands of the East MEC. These charges are supported by this Council’s MEC Vice President.  The removal of both MEC Officer positions will place the Vice President in control of this council, in accordance with the AFA Constitution and Bylaws; Article III, 5. (click here to read a copy of the charges).

While your officers are not permitted to respond specifically to these charges via this forum, we will have the ability to present the facts as related to the political nature of these charges, as well as an actual account of the events that motivated Mr. Flores to file such charges. 
 
Our goal is to have this matter heard and settled as quickly as possible.  Unfortunately due to the schedule of the Hearing Board members, a date could be set as early as May, or as late as the end of June. Please reference the AFA Constitution and Bylaws, Article X and Section XIII with respect to the procedures used by the Hearing Board when conducting a hearing. The AFA Hearing Board is comprised of members of the AFA Board of Directors
 
Due to the costs involved, and in order to assure that all of our witnesses are available to the Hearing Board, we have made a formal request that the Hearing Board hear this matter locally, in Phoenix.
 
While the allegations of Mr. Flores clearly places strain upon the ability to negotiate on a level playing field, your West negotiators, MEC President Lisa LeCarre and MEC Secretary-Treasurer Jeff Albers, will continue our responsibility of negotiating in the best interests and for the good of our membership. Additionally, we will proceed forward with the scheduled sessions under Section 6 negotiations under the guidance of a Federal Mediator
 
In the meantime, we will continue to do the work that you and the rest of the membership elected us to do.  Until our membership says otherwise, our focus will remain on you. Thank you.

MEC President, Lisa LeCarre  
MEC Secretrary-Treasurer, Jeff Albers



mec@afa66.org
www.afa66.org