Originally Posted by hitimefurl

Carry over:

My main issue is that the DPA Constitution is flawed IMHO. The DPA is claiming to be a better ALPA. There are major changes to the Constitution that I do not agree with.

Here are my bullet points in support:

• DPA announces dues will be lowered to anywhere between 1%-1.75% depending on where you read the website yet the constitution says they will go up from first year target of 1.65% without MEMRAT to 2.25% (Edit: Carl disagrees on date in spite of DPA declaration to open early) or a minimum of 2% for Section 6. A merger also triggers this. ALPA can't raise dues today without a vote.
• They say that FPL is bad yet they increased FPL for all volunteers including those that don't get FPL like that today over today's limits and pay for it out of the budget since they will take that money value assigned to the contract and spread it amongst the pilots. No, wait, make that the reps as the FPL is going up the money would go to them not the CBA.
• USAPA payed over $7 million in legal fees to SSM&P in less than 4 years after the vote. SSMP&P is charging 50% of their $250 fee, per their contract, with the rest outstanding after certification, yet the DPA has mysteriously paid a number so small that it can only be called incidental costs from the DPA logs. Where's the legal bill?
• There's a second law firm on the DPA books that has charged more to the DPA than SSM&P so far. Who could that be possible?
• New hires, pilots returning from disability and MILOA can't be reps for 2 years, nor could a pilot from a merged airline because of the 2 year good standing rule
• New hires have to pay a maintenance fee their first year. Not about money, right?
• Look through the USAPA LM2 and see the 6 figure employees they have. You want to know why? That's what good help costs today.
• "A contract which is understandable, enforceable and beneficial to both parties and should not exceed 200 pages." Really? Beneficial to the company? An iron clad 200 pages?
• Voting on everything and everybody. Where will you find the time?
• 25% of the pilots in a block to get a resolution passed vs simply majority at an LEC today? Harder to use the pilots will.

The pay issues separated for Carl and Dank who don't like to read:

Cliff notes:

DPA Constitution

3. The dues rate shall be 1.75% upon initial certification by the National Mediation Board. On January 1st of the second full fiscal year following initial certification, the dues rate shall drop annually by 0.25% every year until reaching a minimum dues rate of 1%. Special Circumstance Exception: Six (6) months prior to the amendable date of the Pilot Working Agreement, or upon early opening of negotiations if greater than six (6) months prior to the amendable date, or upon notification of a possible bankruptcy or merger initiated by the Company, the dues rate will temporarily increase by 0.5% until the new contract is ratified, or bankruptcy proceedings or merger integration is complete.

DPA Fiscal Year Jan-Jan

2nd full fiscal year would be Jan 2015, but only if vote happen prior to January 2014 otherwise the second full fiscal year would be 2016.

Increase done via existing constitution as written and without a vote.

To change the constitution requires a 2/3 Executive Board vote AND a simple majority vote of the membership. In order for a member to change it they would have to have a 25% of their block vote on the resolution to pass it vs simple majority today.