Unanswered Emails and Deceiving Accounting Emails

Thank you to everyone who has signed and supported this petition. As we approach five months since the dues increase was first proposed, transparency and accountability remain severely lacking. Despite multiple communications and a membership meeting, critical questions continue to go unanswered—including the status of the proposal, the unexplained automatic increases tied to wage raises, and discrepancies in our union's financial reporting.

I’ve sent multiple follow-up emails to TWU Local 579 leadership and have yet to receive any response. This continued silence is unacceptable and only reinforces the need for member-driven oversight.

The following message was sent directly to union leadership today. It outlines the ongoing concerns, calls for specific answers, and emphasizes that while many of us are not opposed to a fair and justified dues increase, we will not support one that is introduced without full transparency and accountability.

Please read and share this update widely. Our collective voice is our strength, and ongoing pressure is critical. Here is the full message:

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Steven,

It’s been nearly a month since your last communication to the membership, and we are now approaching five months since the dues increase was first proposed. Per your own update, the IAC was scheduled to review the proposed bylaw change and dues increase last month in April.

Has the IAC approved or denied the change?

If a decision has been made, why hasn't it been shared?

If no decision has been made, what is the reason for the delay?

The membership deserves a clear update.

Unaddressed Clause in the Proposed Bylaw Change

Let me reiterate a critical part of the bylaw proposal that was posted to the TWU Local 579 website on January 1, 2025:

Submitted by Steven Miller – Dues Section #3:
 “Dues shall automatically be increased with each wage increase by the same percentage as detailed in the Inflight Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).”

This clause-linking automatic dues increases to wage increases was never clearly mentioned, emphasized, or explained in your subsequent communications. That omission is not only glaring—it’s misleading. The term “restructure” was used repeatedly, but nowhere did your emails explain that the new dues of $48.36 would automatically escalate annually based on our negotiated raises.

This automatic increase was never clearly mentioned, emphasized, or explained in any of your subsequent emails. That omission is glaring and, frankly, deceptive. 

Many frontline members are completely unaware of this automatic increase, and that’s unacceptable.

You have failed to include this critical detail in your communications. Your emails repeatedly use the term "restructure" and reference the new dues of $48.36, but they never explain that this includes automatic increases. That’s misleading. What exactly was being restructured, when we—the members—were never presented with a baseline or original financial structure for comparison?

Members on the front lines either don’t know this proposed change exists or don’t understand it, because they haven’t been given the full information.

Timeline of Communications and Meetings:

• January 2nd Dues Bylaws Proposal
• January 8th Proposed Bylaw Change- Dues Increase
• January 18th Proposed Dues Restructure Part 1- Important Information
• January 24th Proposed Dues Restructure Part 2- Important Information
• February 4th Proposed Dues Restructure Part 3- Important Information
• February 10th Townhall- Membership Dues
• March 26th Membership Virtual Meeting - NO RECAP PROVIDED
• March 31st LM-2 and Annual Audit

As I’ve stated in meetings, emails, and publicly on social media, I am not opposed to a justified dues increase. However, this proposal is not it. The way it has been introduced feels opportunistic and lacks the transparency our members deserve. I remain unconvinced that an automatic dues increase is necessary, or that it serves the best interests of our union.

Request for Transparency on Dues Calculation

During the March 26th membership meeting, you committed to providing more detail on how the $48.36 dues figure was calculated using a “weighted average” based on our “complicated” pay structure.

Please provide the following:

• An expanded version of the basic Excel spreadsheet used in your example
• An explanation of whether inflation or cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) were considered
• A breakdown of how the automatic increase will be applied, ideally with a sample budget showing its impact on the Local’s financial health

Concerns from 2024 LM-2 Report

According to the 2024 LM-2, TWU Local 579 ended the year with $853,519 in assets—nearly double the 2023 amount. Given that, I have the following questions:

• How will these assets be reallocated?
   (e.g., reserves, future elections, or operating expenses)
• Where is the $334,465 in wage reimbursement from the International reflected in our financials?
• Why is there no mention of union credit card usage, rebates, or refunds?
  • (Other TWU Locals, such as Southwest, report this clearly.)

Salary Discrepancies

There are inconsistencies in executive compensation that raise further concerns:

• Tyesha Best’s salary dropped from $76,396 in 2023 to $42,390 in 2024—a $34,006 decrease
• VP Rob Hill’s salary remained unchanged
• Executives at JFK, LAX, and MCO reportedly earned more than the President.

The President’s salary reduction might be valid, but without context, it raises red flags, especially considering the push for a dues increase, and since other executives at bases like JFK, LAX, and MCO earned more than the President. Can you explain this discrepancy?

Classification and Reporting Gaps

• Compared to other LM-2 filings—such as those from Southwest or TWU International—our report lacks:
• Specific classifications of expenses (e.g., hotel names/dates, lobbying events)
• Detailed descriptions of spending categories
• A clear, itemized structure that would help members understand how funds are used

Lastly, I noticed a $334,465 reimbursement in wages from the International to our local from their LM-2 report. Where is this reflected in our LM-2 or financial statements? If it’s not clearly categorized, please provide that information here.

Final Position

I’m not opposed to a reasonable and justified dues increase. But this proposal, as it stands, lacks the transparency, clarity, and justification our members deserve. An automatic increase tied to wage raises is not something we can blindly accept, especially withouta clear explanation and evidence of need.

Until these issues are addressed and full information is provided, I remain strongly opposed to this dues proposal.

I will continue reviewing our 2023 and 2024 LM-2s and comparing them with other TWU-represented carriers, and I will follow up on the unanswered questions from previous emails. I look forward to your timely response.