Originally Posted by
76drvr
I hear what you are saying about guarantees, in that they don't have a track record to point to as an organization, and I know that there are no guarantees that they could do better, that's why I said with some semblance of assurance. I guess the best way to do start would be by listing what it is that each member of their committee structure brings to the organization, kind of a resume, posting their individual DPA e-mail addresses and allow us to question them in a free and open forum online, kind of like "committee corner". That's how we can tell if these guys are for real, know the issues, how they interact with line pilots or whether they are just names on a web board who nobody knows.
Take this as input.
I guess almost 4000 pilots are wrong. You have to admit that ALPA has a big conflict of interest with the RJ community (can't represent both interests which absolutely conflict). Also, a lot of what ALPA has (like ALPA medical) is actually contracted out. We can have the same people at ALPA medical at the DPA. We need someone who will focus on OUR needs, and I pay enough money to have my "agent" fight for ME, not RJ operators. We paid $38 million in dues last year to ALPA (just Delta pilots), and we received about $9 million in actual services. Where did the rest of the money go? To cover the RJ operators who's dues couldn't pay for squat, and the Canadian Metroliner people (Bearskin Airlines), and others. I want my needs focused on, because I am paying for it. And the people "on the screen" have street cred too.
I know Dalpa will start this contract negotiation, and if they hand us a weak TA (and we know Delta is making big money these days, heck, they just threw $100 million at GOL Airlines), then there is no doubt that the number of people signed up for the DPA will double, and a vote will happen. No pressure DALPA----bring the goods or move over.