Originally Posted by
DAL 88 Driver
How can they "prove" anything
Attend the next round of LEC meetings as a bloc and pass resolutions that promote some of the "smaller goals". It could be a coordinated resolution that is the same at every LEC meeting.
When/if it passes (provided DPA supports actually get up and DO something), it will end up at the MEC meeting from every direction in the same manner.
When/if it fails, well then it probably wasn't a good idea or there really isn't enough action behind the "talk" of the DPA faction.
Originally Posted by
DAL 88 Driver
They are not in a position to prove anything because they are not in a position right now to make any changes that affect us. All any of us can do is assess whether we think ALPA or DPA is best suited to accomplish restoration and put our careers back on track. It's not by any means a perfect science or sure thing either way.
I see big problems with ALPA... notably these:
1) Lack of objective. This MEC (and the one before it) absolutely refuses to state restoration as an objective. Why? And how are they going to achieve restoration if it's not even their objective? This is so out of touch with the vast majority of all the pilots I've ever known, worked with, and run across that it's just amazing. "Bottom up" my @ss! This MEC is about as "top down" as anything I've ever seen.
How about that resolution idea above that that directs the MEC (or at least each LEC officer level) to issue a "negotiations mission statement?"
Originally Posted by
DAL 88 Driver
2) Conflict of interest at National. Yes, our MEC gets to make the final call as to whether or not to put a TA out there for a vote. And we as a pilot group get to vote it up or down. But you know as well as I do that there will be a full court press sales pitch to get us to vote in favor of any TA brought to us. And where do you think our MEC is getting most of its research and advice from? ALPA National. And ALPA National has responsibility to protect the jobs of ALL its members, which includes a whole bunch of regional pilots who are currently doing a whole bunch of flying that was previously done by Delta pilots. This is a no brainer... despite all the rationalization we get on it from DALPA.
Prove they are effective at fixing things at the local and MEC level first. Show us the proposed plan and the wording....If they are superior to the current set up it will be implemented, if not, well maybe it wasn't such a good idea.
Again, you can't convince me that your ideas and future "Policy Manual" to run the union for Delta Pilots will be effective if you don't try to implement some of those ideas NOW!!
(and it will make your supposed transition that much easier.)
(and if the ideas have merit I have no doubt that the other group A carriers would get behind policy changes.)
Originally Posted by
DAL 88 Driver
So, no, I can't prove to you that DPA can do any better. I don't know for a fact that they will either. I like what I see with their proposed structure and their philosophy. But that's all I have to go on. For me, it really comes down to this: If I'm riding a horse that I know for sure is going to take me off a cliff, and I have an opportunity to change horses (even if I don't really know exactly where the other horse is going), well I'm going to change horses rather than die a certain death. Not a perfect analogy, but that's pretty much the way I see it.
I'm not going off a cliff on this horse yet. ALPA still has the championship when it comes to highest record contracts and gains in Section 6. Independent unions may lead now, but its only due to concessions, not due to their innate superiority to negotiate.