ALPA National's attorney(s) have inserted themselves in local politics to undermine the democratic governance of our union. They have advised their client did nothing inappropriate. Our Reps are conflicted and reticent to take real action.

Our union's governance has broken down.

Most of our Reps are former military Officers. They understand the concept of bottom up, grass roots, representation, ... but ... in practice they are more naturally good Officers rather than trouble making union protagonists. Our Reps are good men.*

The powers that be planned this thing so there would be a delay over the Holidays and insufficient time to organize a political response. It will most likely be signed by ALPA's President.

Now it is more a matter of trying to figure out how to minimize the damage ... and nothing quick or easy comes to mind. We don't have the legal foundation to regain the ground we are giving up.

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* A dear friend sent me MLK's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." What is striking about this historical document is what Martin Luther King was replying to .... King's own associates had written a public letter calling his protests "unwise and untimely," that King's protests and mere presence were unwelcome in Alabama.

King replies "I am in Birmingham, because there is injustice here....We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly ...." Rev. King outlines the steps in any non violent campaign for reform:

1. Collect the facts
2. Negotiation
3. Self-purification
4. Direct Action

(paraphrasing) Nonviolent action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. Action which seeks to dramatize this issue so that it can no longer be ignored.

"We know that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor, it must be demanded ... I have never been involved in a direct action campaign which was "well timed" .... "

"I have reached the regrettable conclusion ... the great stumbling block is the ... moderate who is more devoted to "order" than justice; who constantly says "I agree with the goal you seek, but I can not agree with ... action."
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It is worth recalling Reverend King took a bullet for his actions. None of the "moderate" supporters addressed in the letter even got shot at. It probably is not politically smart to call for direct action using ALPA's governing documents to affect change in our union; yet such action is the right thing to do.

( and no, I am in no way comparing our representational struggle with the work of Martin Luther King. I'm just taking some inspiration from a very well reasoned rebuttal to good men who recommended taking no action )