Originally Posted by
sailingfun
I am on record here many times stating what I consider a reasonable contract. It exceeds what SW has.
You're also on record misstating what's
in the SW contract. You may well be one of those in DALPA that think we will need a very small raise to be in parity to SW. If you really think "reasonable" means something that exceeds the SW contract, you'll need to know what's IN the SW contract.
Originally Posted by
sailingfun
If we are going to get anywhere close to SW wages and retain the aspects of our contract that are better then SW it will come only as a long struggle. A struggle that will require a united pilot group.
I agree. But 4,200 of us are certain that DALPA has no intention of struggling. We believe that with certainty based on the facts that come from DALPA on nearly a daily basis.
Originally Posted by
sailingfun
It is a struggle that will be won or lost behind the scenes in DC via political means.
Pure BS. It will never get close to DC if our bargaining agent is bent on not even trying, and hiding the fact that they are powerless to reverse outsourcing. The first steps are for our bargaining agent to state the problems, state their strategy for returning us to leading the industry, then implement that strategy. Only after that will we need any political help. If you have no intention of fighting, you'll need no help from DC.
Originally Posted by
sailingfun
I can only conclude that those who at this stage support DPA would prefer to see DALPA fail and of course the pilots lose income and quality rather then work as a unified group to get the very best contract possible.
That's been your opinion from day 1, not just "at this stage". You've done nothing but excuse everything ALPA, and denigrate anything that discussed leaving ALPA. Interesting tactics you're using to achieve "unity". You exhibit the typical response from an ALPA for life guy. Never discuss why 4,200 + pilots would vote for an in-house union, only describe those fellow pilots as "preferring to see DALPA fail." Shameful. DALPA
is failing. It's why an in-house union is being discussed. DALPA's failing is NOT because of the in-house push. It has resulted IN the in-house push.
Originally Posted by
sailingfun
DPA leadership itself when they started their effort fully recognized the danger this posed and gave themselves a hard deadline to end the process to insure a unified group. Sadly they abandoned what was a correct and smart initial choice for what we have today.
They are not doing that because many of their members (like me) are insisting we continue this effort because it cannot be left to DALPA alone when the TA is released. We cannot be left with the standard ALPA talking points of: "This is as good as it's going to get guys. If you vote this down your whole MEC and negotiating committee will resign, and who knows how long the next TA will take..." Without a solid in-house union ready to step in immediately, DALPA will produce a weak TA. With a solid in-house union ready to step in, DALPA will realize that this TA is an existential threat to DALPA if they fail. There is NO disunity in that. It is nothing more than any pilot does every day - having a solid plan B.
Originally Posted by
sailingfun
Management is toasting them every night on the 4th floor.
BS. Management is scared to death of any union other than their friends at DALPA. Imagine the angst in not going to each other's kids' birthday parties anymore.
Originally Posted by
sailingfun
I want the very best contract I can get for my family. Some think that only requires demanding the most up front. Those who feel that way sadly have not studied the history of contracts under the railway labor act. They would be wise to do so.
And others such as yourself feel that the best way is to specifically ignore any competitor that pays pilots more than us. Ignore AF/KLM, UPS, FDX and SWA. Always an excuse as to why we can't talk about them. This allows you to aim low, and get a quick contract. I can hear management's glasses klinking to your efforts now.
Carl