Originally Posted by
ATCsaidDoWhat
Your reply clearly points out why ALPA is not a union. A true union reaches out to the least in a class and craft, reaches out and picks them up. They negotiate for better wages and working conditions to bring them up to an industry standard.
Why? Because by doing so, they remove the ability of YOUR management to make the case that "they" are the real industry standard and YOU make too much. Ask any negotiating committee when the last time was their company said they didn't make enough money and were below "industry standard." We'll wait....
Perhaps you feel it's OK to sign concessionary contracts. Apparently the IBT Airline Division doesn't. Perhaps you feel it's OK to walk across your fellow employees picket line at your company because after all, they aren't pilots. Apparently they don't. Maybe you agree that to appease your friends, it's OK to drop the experience requirements in the cockpit. Apparently they don't.
And apparently you join in the belief that it's OK to look in disdain on fellow pilots because they don't make as much as you. Or that they must not be "real" pilots because they fly cargo and you fly people.
Call yourself a "union" member all you want. That's not what UNION people do.
DALPA openly admits Delta pilot wages are not industry leading. But take a look around, they are near the top. There, you didn't wait long.
And it's clear IBT would rather drag things out and be stuck on the same crummy wages for years and years. I prefer consistent increases and improvements over contract stagnation. That being said, all airline unions are handcuffed by the Railway Labor Act. It doesn't matter if it's IBT, ALPA, or CAPA.
And I never expressed disdain for any of my fellow pilots because they make less money or fly cargo. Show me a post of mine where I said those things. ALPA represents FedEx pilots. Are their wages below industry standard? Who signed their leading contract first? FedEx or UPS. Yup, FedEx and ALPA put that rung in the ladder. You're welcome IBT. And show me an airline that has all their employee groups represented by the same union. I'm sure mechanics have never gone to work while IBT pilots struck. Oh, and GoJet pilots are IBT. While TranStates pilots tried fighting for better wages, IBT stabbed them in the back by representing GoJet pilots who flew the larger airplanes for well below industry standard wages. So much for not settling. And how much participation did IBT have in lobbying to raise the minimums for commercial pilots, or change the FTDT regs? I bet IBT spent less money and time then ALPA.
IBT hasn't convinced me they're a good Pilot union. ALPA's positive actions far outweigh those of IBT.