Originally Posted by
JoeMerchant
Here's the thing..."Whipsaw" is nothing more than "competition". Until you solve the problem of "competing" within a brand, all the stickers in the world won't change reality.
The only way to change this is with "brand scope" negotiated at the mainline level...Which isn't likely to happen because that would require them to use negotiating capital for other pilots. In addition, the mainline pilots actually get negotiating "credit" at the table for helping to lower the cost of regional feed...Dirty little ALPA secret that they don't want you to know.
ASA and CMR pilots fought this battle with the PID and then RJDC over a decade ago.....and lost.
Joe,
You are aware of the changes made to ALPA's Admin Manual, specifically Section 40, which were a part of ALPA's voluntary settlement of that litigation. You are aware (or should have been aware) that the Pinnacle MEC and NC did not lift a finger to comply with these provisions. The very provisions you fought for and won.
I am baffled by the fact that not one regional airline MEC Chairman, or Rep, called for an Executive Board meeting to consider the breach of ALPA policy. The Pinnacle Bridge agreement probably could have been stopped. No one acted to manage ALPA. Folks like you and Tony really should have taken the time to lobby your Reps. I know some of your Reps and they are good men. You could have helped them and I think they would have done the right thing.
It is frustrating that informed members are not more proactive in managing their union. You know the tools at your disposal and how to use them.
Again, it is puzzling why no one called an Executive Board.
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Not that I completely fault you or any line pilot. Reps should go through a school that teached the Constitution and Admin Manual in a fashion similar to the way pilots are taught Regulations and Ops Specs. ALPA needs a more thorough indoc training.
Still, as much as this affects the express guys, you'd think someone would have raised a lot of noise when it mattered.