The president of the Allied Pilots Association (APA) has been removed from his position following allegations of election tampering. Captain Ed Sicher faced a recall vote yesterday that ultimately went against him, ending his two-and-a-half-year tenure as the 
American Airlines
pilot union president.
American Airlines pilot union president ousted
As first reported by Aero Crew News, Captain Sicher faced a recall vote due to “serious allegations of election tampering” related to candidates in local elections who were in favor of a merger between APA and US pilot union Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). Efforts to coordinate a merger between the two unions has been on the cards for the last few years, but pilots within AA – along with local officials across the country – have been split on the matter.
Sicher is said to have attempted to block the election of certain local officials who wanted an APA-ALPA merger by opening disciplinary proceedings against them, as well as against two APA board members also in favor of the merger. According to Aero Crew News,
“To justify the disciplinary charges, Sicher has reportedly reinterpreted Article 7 of APA’s bylaws, arguing that actions threatening APA’s existence—such as supporting the merger being sent to a general membership vote—justify disciplinary action.”
Photo: APA
Sicher also reportedly threatened to release the names of voters and non-voters in local council elections in an attempt to intimidate them. With the vote taking place yesterday, Sicher was recalled from his position following a 15-5 count against him. Having flown for American Airlines as a pilot since 1998, Sicher was appointed as president of APA in July 2022.
The session was held openly, and a recording will be posted online for APA members to review soon. The union’s vice president, Captain Chris Torres, will take over as president on an interim basis before the union elects a new president before the conclusion of its Fall Board Meeting.
Photo: APA
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Board Of American Airlines’ Pilot Union Rejects Merger With ALPA
Allied Pilots Association declines the opportunity to join the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) family.
In July 2023, APA rejected a merger with ALPA on the grounds that it would not deliver enough benefits to justify giving up being an independent union. On that day, the vote went 10-10 and needed a two-thirds majority to pass – however, previous polls have suggested that more APA pilots are in favor of a merger than not.
About the Allied Pilots Association
Formed in the 1960s, APA now represents over 15,000 American Airlines pilots and is the largest independent pilots union in the world. ALPA—the largest collective pilot union in the world—represents more than 75,000 pilots at over 40 airlines in the US and Canada, including major carriers like Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, and United Airlines.
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