I'd heard so much good about constructive engagement when I stepped foot through the door here that I assumed that ALPA could do no wrong. By the end of my newhire pizza and beer fest I was angry enough to say something to the newhire guy. ALPA, as you pointed out earlier, was in fact the guiding force of the pilots - not the other way around, as it should be. It was clear, and remains clear over 2 years later that all committees are operating and dictating opinion TO the pilots while intentionally withholding facts. I never went into defend ALPA mode about the PNCL thing. (Mr Johnso on the other hand...) but I was at least put at ease after I reached out to my rep and got the facts. It's been years since anyone said "well the pilots think..." to management here. That's wrong.

I always tried to make sure constituent pilots have all the facts. We lead busy, complicated lives as pilots, and there's enough information flowing out there that we could literally be overwhelmed by it. I'm thankful that some guys are crazy enough to try to wrestle with it all, but I'd appreciate a bigger picture view, and I'd appreciate more reps flying the line, rather than being part time office jockeys. Been there, tried that - you lose touch after about 10 days away from the line.

Bottom line, ALPA lost the right to make up my mind for me after 10 days on the property. If I support them, even over something contentious, it's because unity is the prevailing winning condition. I assure you though, my own opinion and my own perspective is my own, typically derived from my own facts. If that's optimistic, then I guess that's a good thing. We're moving in the right direction, but I was certainly hoping for a larger shift in direction and tact from ALPA with a new poodle...err...MEC Chairman in place.