Originally Posted by
PCL_128
I agree with you that supporting Age 65 was a mistake. But who made that mistake? Certainly not Captain Moak. He was a lowly MEC Chairman at the time.
The new FT/DT rules are based on science, not on your personal preferences. The science backs up certain things that all of us may not like, such as 9 hours of block, but the overall FT/DT rules are a vast improvement. In the areas that we don't like the new rules, then we can always have better work rules in our CBAs that more closely conform to our preferences, even if they aren't supported by the science. In most cases, the complaints by mainline pilots about the new rules are already addressed in their existing work rules, and don't even require new bargaining efforts.
When exactly did this request get denied? I'm pretty sure I would have heard about something as big as the ALPA president flat out refusing an MEC's request for a letter to the NMB requesting a proffer. Perhaps you can point to some evidence of this refusal?
How are you so sure that requesting a proffer from the NMB is the correct move? Have you talked to the professional negotiators and attorneys who deal with the NMB on a daily basis? Do you know what the NMB has been saying to your negotiators and MEC officers? Do you have a phone patch to the White House to know what the president's reaction is going to be to a pilot group pushing for a release before the November elections?
I don't know whether requesting a release is right or wrong at this point. But I do know that pilots issuing ultimatums without having all of the facts is rarely a good idea.
I'm on a phone so can't break out without tons of work.
Doesn't matter who was at the helm for Age 65. It's ALPA that's failing... One chairman after another.
FDT regs- BS it's based on science. It's political. Flying across the pond 2 pilots is somehow BETTER and SAFER? How can flying MORE hours be less fatiguing? Have you flown back from Europe to the US? Doing that with 2 guys after getting a lousy nights sleep is going to be nasty. By the way, I've submitted this question to ALPA national and ALPA magazine twice and been ignored.
You don't understand how contract negotiations work. If restrictions such as 8 hours flying or 3 pilot Atlantic crossings are in our contract now, it's because those were the FAR's. The company will now demand that our contract conform to your new science-based FAR's. It WILL take negotiating capital to keep those rules in place. Period. End of story.
Have you seen Moak's signature on the April 30th request for release? Didn't think so. When I see it, I'll retract. You can try to argue semantics all you want but he hasn't signed it. Period. End of story.
Requesting release is the official position of my MC. You know, the guy who has spent more time with the NMB than anyone involved. He's my leader, and I do what he asks. I've paid tens of thousands of dollars to ALPA for this very moment. I've been a proud ALPA supporter for decades, but they are increasingly failing. We are at the tipping point. You can continue to debate with yourself about what the NMB is thinking and what the best course of action is. The hard evidence is in my corner. Number of major sections settled YEARS into negotiations? -1. You say requesting release without all the facts is foolish. I didn't request release. Jay Heppner did. You know, the guy with ALL the facts.
Quote your ALPA National talking points all you want. Talk time is over. ALPA supports us NOW or they are history. You think the assessment for the dork up of TWA representation is going to be bad???? Wait until you are paying the UAL assessment!!