Originally Posted by
HKFlyr
LOL, accused of whining...I like that. I have spent more time on the phone with many of our reps, on this and other issues. Have most of their phone numbers and personal emails.
1. They won't supply their schedules/calenders. That went away under this administration. Try and get a calender from them, or from a committee volunteer, who takes significant flight pay loss. Again, not required.
2. Personally witnessed what I have seen. How many of the 4 do you know or have you talked to? The major support for the 4 started in the end game, when the die was cast, and we traded away our leverage. We actually had something the company wanted that we could have used to resolve this issue and we gave it away for our 3% payraise. (The LOA we got was not negotiated, it was handed to us by the company in an attempt to get more FO's out here, we made very minor changes to it)
Ask for calenders to be published! I already know the answer on that, as does Tony. They all but did away with the financial oversight committee immediately after this gang came into office. FACT. Ask them how many times MEC members - NOT MEC OFFICERS, have come in on flight pay loss to be "duty officers". A FACT that is again, more than you want to know. We as members should have access to this, with a clear third party Financial Oversight Committee, like we used to have...but again, not now.
Most commute in on Monday, leave Thursday, or Friday. They have more options for virtual work now. And if not mistaken, they in the past only got 1 day out of 15 days as credit for flying. Now they get more - that was proposed, not sure if it was finally enacted, but Tony can answer that.
Previous administrations always had 2 officers in the office most weeks. Ask committee volunteers how many times they came in the office with no officers. Never try to get anything done with our MEC on a Monday or Friday. I have witnessed that first hand when going in to get help on a contract issue, benefits issue, etc, and no one was in. Mid week. Not good. Several times answer was working from home, or just, not sure where they are.
Just because you got answers and are satisfied doesnt mean that issue wasn't put off way to long because of other things at the MEC..it was. Again, ask Tony C, he was a rep, as other long standing reps that are still around.
You and I pay their salaries, and I am allowed constructive critism. I saw SS and his negotiating guy spend less than 20 minutes on the HK 4 issue here in HK and they ran out and didn't mingle with anyone in HK. Left after an hour and 45 minutes. Those of us at that meeting didn't get answers on a lot of stuff. For instance, how long has this been a known issue at the MEC?...who are you negotiating with? What are our long term actions? Will you support a financial fund? (something we have done in the past)....no answers...just emails from management with after the fact responses from our leadership.
You say trust but verify, I have more than done that, I have witnessed it. You are the union, I am the union, I want transparency, honesty, and for us to support our members. I'm a President's club with ALPA PAC, and I doubt you have spent more time than me as a volunteer.
Catch Phrases. SS and this gang are the kings of catch-phrases...especially if it involves girls softball or soccer.
That is the problem right now - not enough people are holding their leaders accountable. They give weak answers and with little or no detail, and there is a reason why...there isn't much there.
There is a reason we had a 6 - 6 tie vote at the last officer elections...50% of the reps weren't happy. There wasn't unity. Why do you think there was a huge turnover recently? Why isn't there a Hong Kong Rep? 2 out of 3 here have resigned...
But you did use a well known tactic, you attacked the person asking the questions...
But lastly, you really need to ask yourself, why did they seek private counsel? (and it was more than 4 that did it, one very successfully) That is the really troubling question.