Originally Posted by
scambo1
PG;
I've never needed DALPA for any of the stuff people say they are great at. I hope I never do. I am thankful pilots step up and volunteer their time for the benefit of other pilots. All of that said, I think it is apparent that you and I have a different perspective wrt ALPA. You willingly wrap yourself in the womb of D/ALPA, where I find them often lacking. I don't seek their kinship nor do I need them to stroke my head and tell me I'm a good boy.
How about a suggestion? Let's have an intelligent debate without all the hyperbole. Shall we?
I DO have a different perspective toward ALPA than you and many. And its for one simple reason. Most of you see "ALPA" as some amorphous blob, or even worse, see it as a single person (Moak), with evil intentions, or incompetent, or both, whose primary job is to find ways to hose over the Delta pilots (or sometimes just "you").
I see the reality. The "political ALPA", which is really the only part people complain about, consists of only about 30 guys at the Delta level, and (from what I know) about 10-15 guys at the National level. I know the vast majority of these guys. And with very few exceptions (and there ARE a few exceptions in my opinion), all of these guys are upright, hard working, honest, intelligent human beings, and fellow pilots who do the best they can to make the best collective decision they can for the long term betterment of the Delta pilot group (in the case of the 30), or for the betterment of ALL ALPA pilots (in the case of the 10-15). While there are certainly a few with hidden agendas, I simply don't believe the majority do.
I have tremendous respect for their willingness to put up with the BS from keyboard warriors who constantly disparage their hard work, assign nefarious motives to them, and always have the answer for every problem that is so obvious to see. Yet, are seldom willing to actually attempt to do any of the heavy lifting. Having said that, a few on this board HAVE stepped up to the plate, and I applaud them for their efforts. I am quite confident that they may end up with a different view of "ALPA" once they get involved more deeply. I've seen it happen over and over again. Some on the current MEC got involved because they had all the answers, only to find out the problems are a bit different when you actually are responsible and held accountable for the effects of your decisions.
And BTW, in the interest of full disclosure, I am NOT (nor have I ever) been elected to one of these ALPA positions, but I do do ALPA work.
Originally Posted by
scambo1
If you review this last crisis du jour, I think you will find that DALPA leaders were NOT ready. They were caught off guard. When they aimed and fired, it was not from a position of power, but instead the position lacking of power.
Not ready? Caught off guard? Lacking power?
For what?
Because Delta signed a contract for flying that is outside the scope of our PWA, just like they've done dozens of times before? Because Delta (possibly - we still don't know for sure) changed a corporate policy (modified hiring standards), something totally within their right to do?
I don't recall DALPA being consulted when Delta changed their paint scheme. I don't recall DALPA being consulted when Delta changed their logo. I don't recall DALPA being consulted when Delta changed lawn service providers at the GO. I don't recall DALPA being consulted when Delta changed caterers. And on and on. We have a PWA that says we will fly any aircraft that [fill in the blank]. We ALSO have policies that govern and limit what others can do. But how Delta (or these others) do that is totally up to them. IMO.
I just don't see the problem here, other than I agree with Sink r8, that purely for optics, DALPA should have been consulted and given a heads up. I honestly don't know whether they were, but the appearances seem to indicate they weren't.